A Nottinghamshire mum-of-two says she wouldn't wish what her family have gone through on anybody as her husband recovers from two major cancer scares. Jan Walmsley, 52, has been with her husband Rob Walmsley, 61, for 20 years, and says the illnesses he has had to cope with have been 'horrendous'.
A throat cancer diagnosis in 2006 meant that Rob could not be by Jan's side as she gave birth to the first of their two children, who are now aged 16 and 14. But Rob's initial illness, alongside a more recent battle with mouth cancer, has also affected the family financially and Jan is now seeking help to provide "security" for her children.
Jan Walmsley said: "In 2006 I was pregnant when Rob started feeling unwell and, after going back and forth to the doctors, they eventually said that we had reasons to be concerned and listed four types of cancer. Rob said 'so I have got cancer', they said 'yes' and that's where this all started.
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"It was horrendous, he went through three intensive rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and he missed the birth of our first child because he was having a peg fitted so that he could eat. It was just crazy."
Rob's initial throat cancer and the birth of a baby meant that the couple were unable to work and financial difficulties meant they were not able to keep up with mortgage payments on their home. After a period renting, the family moved to Spain and returned to the UK when Jan's dad became ill and later passed away in 2017.
They eventually came to live in Cotgrave where Rob has family, and the couple are both now working again, with Rob running his own business. But Rob has once again been in and out of hospital for the last 18 months after a diagnosis of mouth cancer.
Doctors initially believed Rob had bowel cancer and removed 18 inches of his colon, the family said Although now cancer-free, the mouth cancer has left Rob with a large hole in the roof of his mouth and the family are now waiting for a skin graft operation.
In terms of the help she is now seeking, Jan said: "Our boys are very well travelled and they've been really good, but I do want to provide some security for them in case anything happened. I couldn't move them around again and see them having to move schools again.
"So ideally we want to buy a place where we've got security and a landlord can't suddenly turn round and say we've got to go. I also just want to give Rob some good news to cheer him up, because we've had such a time of it and I wouldn't wish what we've been through on anybody.
"We're always thinking now about what could be coming next, we just need a bit of help and a bit of a break." Those wishing to donate to Jan's GoFundMe fundraiser can do so here.
A statement on the fundraising page, set on by Jan, adds: "I honestly don't want this to come across as begging and I'm sure there are people worse off then us but I think we have had our fair share of [a rubbish] time now and need a little help and a break. Thank you so much in advance for reading my pitch."
The page aims to raise £70,000.
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