A loving headteacher who dedicated her life to help others has died at the age of 43.
After being diagnosed with bowel cancer, Ros Atkins - who has been described as a "special person" - lost her fight with the disease and died surrounded by her loved ones on Monday, October 3. Her family and friends are now urging people to "know the signs" and "get checked" if you experience any changes in your body.
Ros, from Gateacre, was on holiday with her husband John and their daughter Maggie in Scotland when she first started experiencing pain in the right side of her body which felt like a stitch. Despite thinking it could be a pulled muscle, the pain gradually got worse.
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After a trip to her GP, Ros was told to go to hospital immediately due to fears of a blood clot on her lung, but subsequent tests showed she had a dark shadow on her liver. She was soon told she had secondary cancer cells on her liver.
Following a colonoscopy at St Helens Hospital, Ros was diagnosed with stage four terminal bowel cancer and told secondary cancer cells had also spread to her liver and lymph nodes. It was at this time Ros was told the devastating news at Whiston Hospital she had between 18 months and five years to live.
Despite months battling the disease, close friend Matt Jones said she lost her fight on Monday, October 3 at Marie Curie. He told the ECHO: "She was continuing with her treatment and was trying to get further chemotherapy but she had a complication towards the end.
"She developed sepsis and the antibiotics didn't work and there was nothing more the could do. She ended up going to Marie Curie around September 27 and she passed away on Monday surrounded by her friends and family.
"John has such gratitude to Marie Curie for their support and they helped Ros' daughter Maggie through a really difficult time. He wants to give something back to them so set up a fundraiser as a thank you."
He added: "She was hard-working, but she was just a really good fun girl. Whenever we went around to her house she was always cooking, she was a feeder of people.
"She was a welcoming person and in her last couple of days she was inundated with people coming in and out to see her, chatting away to everyone. She was just a special person to many people."
Ros touched the hearts of many people, including as her time as a headteacher at Weston Primary school in Runcorn. Deciding early on that she wanted a career in teaching, Ros faced many challenges, but "always gave her all".
A fundraising page has since been set up to for Marie Curie, as husband John paid a heart-felt tribute to his loving wife. He wrote: "Heartbroken that my amazing wife Ros sadly lost her fight against cancer on 3/10/22. It wasn't a fair fight though otherwise she would have battered it.
"She was such a bundle of energy and fun even whilst suffering with her illness. She was selfless and kind beyond compare and the hole she leaves behind is impossible to fill. For 23 years she has been at my side and I have no idea how waking up without her each day will feel like.
"We were fortunate to have our amazing daughter Maggie six years ago and for her to lose the best mum in the world is just cruel and tragic. Her life will now be celebrated and although sad she is gone, she is now no longer in pain."
Having "loved going to work", Ros also "loved helping people" as John added: "She was proud to serve these wonderful pupils, dedicated and creative staff and be part of such an inclusive community. I know how important the school was to Ros and the mutual feeling has been exemplified by the touching messages of support over the last few weeks."
The fundraiser can be found by clicking here.
Chair of governors at the school, Russell Houghton, added: "Ros was a well respected and much loved headteacher. She has enriched the lives of many children with her caring nature encouraging all to be the best version of themselves. Ros worked closely with the local community to ensure the school was a valued and integral part of the area."
Ros previously shared her story with the ECHO in the hopes of raising awareness of bowel cancer as she said she didn't experience any of the typical symptoms due to where the tumour was positioned on the lining of her bowel. She urged people of the importance of going to the doctors and getting anything that feels out of the ordinary checked out.
Now, her friends and family are reiterating that all-important message to get checked whenever you think something is out of the ordinary. According to the NHS, bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Common symptoms can include persistent blood in your poo, a persistent change in your bowel habit and persistent lower abdominal pain, bloating or discomfort.
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