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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Alan Johnson

Deborah James 'taking things one day at a time' after special trip to the opera

Terminal bowel cancer sufferer Dame Deborah James said she's taking things "one day at a time" as she enjoyed a trip to the opera.

The 40-year old, accompanied by husband Sebastien Bowen, travelled to one of her "favourite places" Glyndebourne Opera House, East Sussex to enjoy a performance of La Boheme.

Podcast host Deborah took to her 'Bowel Babe' Instagram account on Saturday night to share several photos from the day and included shots of her at the same location five years earlier - shortly after she discovered she was battling the disease.

"Another day, brings another excuse to spend half of it exhausting myself getting dressed up to go to one of my favourite places! @glyndebourne to watch #laboheme - But totally worth it," she declared.

Dame Deborah shared several pictures from her day out in East Sussex (Instagram)
The podcast host included shots taken in the same location some five years earlier - shortly after her diagnosis (Instagram)

"Thank you @glyndebourne for being so lovely and welcoming tonight - doing all this in a wheelchair is certainly a new challenge to learn! I can’t believe I was last here 5 years ago this week - scared, newly diagnosed, just trying to do the same as I’m doing now - taking things one day at a time!! (See stories).

"Anyone that's followed me for years knows that the British season is my favourite time of the year hence why all my @inthestyle dresses are named after events! So I figured my aim is just try to fit in a few whilst I'm still kicking around and am able to!"

The mother-of-two admitted she's finding it harder and more tiring to get out as time goes on, but her personality remains perfectly intact as she joked about 'sticking two fingers up' to her illness.

Deborah continued: "But be under no illusion! I'm knackered! I've worked out it takes me longer to get ready and organised to go than the time I actually last anywhere! Getting dressed is tiring, getting meds organised is tiring, the extra moving, the travel, the wondering what mood your stomach is in - its all real!

"But then the feeling of making it to something you didn't think possible, having put make up on, donning new shoes (that finally arrived in the right size for massively swollen feet!), with the sunshine smiling - well then it's all worth it! It's a kind of cheeky "still living whilst dying" two fingers up to it all! Have a good weekend all xxxxx."

Within four hours the Dame's post had amassed more than 80,000 likes and 3,000 replies, with one user commenting: "You are absolutely incredible. Please keep sticking two fingers up to the big C and sharing your inspirational posts as you are helping so many people. Love to you and your family always."

Another added: "Such an inspiration. I check your posts every day. You look beautiful and I’m so glad you're enjoying yourself. We all have a lot to learn from you."

A third wrote: "You are beautiful and such an inspiration to everyone, I wish you happiness as you make these beautiful memories for your family, friends and loved ones."

Deborah was presented with her Damehood honour by the Duke of Cambridge in May (Instagram)

Last month Deborah, who was diagnosed in December 2016, revealed she had stopped active treatment for the stage four disease and is now receiving hospice care at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey after posting a 'goodbye' message on Instagram.

She made the selfless decision to receive the end of life hospice care away from her own family home in South London so her children don't have to see it full of medical equipment.

Instead she is living with mum, Heather and dad, Alistair.

"It means the kids can go back there and they don't have those scars everywhere. It can continue to be their home without those memories," she said at the time.

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