A terminally-ill mother discovered she had three deadly brain tumours after a routine dentist appointment. Janice Smith, from Christchurch, underwent an MRI scan in January to check the new dental implants she had installed to replace teeth lost from a severe fall three years prior.
But a concerned dentist found “a dark patch” on her scan and referred her to a doctor for further scans and examination. Janice and her family then received the devastating news that she had three brain tumours and one in her chest, reports Dorset Live.
One of the brain tumours has been removed, but doctors confirmed to the 57-year-old that they are unable to remove the other two due to their locations. “The doctors got her to come in for MRI and three to four hours after the MRI, they called us to say you need to come in for a chat and we were informed she had a brain tumour”, Robbie recalled.
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“We were unfortunate to hear that it wasn’t one, two, but it was three brain tumours. From that point on, it was a horrific ordeal. I cannot thank the NHS enough for how quick they were and getting her to undergo the scans, but dealing with what has happened has been horrible since then.”
Doctors diagnosed her tumours to be the most aggressive and believe they grew from May 2021 onwards. Janice’s family have come together to take her to the hospital for chemotherapy, ensure she is comfortable in her own home, but also help tick off items on her bucket list.
Janice has been treated to a trip at Monkey World and various trips with her family to ensure she has plenty of adventures and happy memories. The former carer and dinner lady wanted to watch Tom Grennan at the O2 in March, but a chemotherapy session left her too unwell to attend.
Undergoing further chemotherapy to limit the growth of the tumours and prolong her life expectancy, her sons Robbie and Matthew have launched a fundraiser to allow Janice and her family to have one last holiday in the UK. With the family struggling financially, they have been left humbled by more than £2,000 raised so far.
Robbie said: “I wanted to try and find a way to give her something where we can have a nice break in the UK that will not be taxing for me but also for me, my partner, mother and others to come along. We have looked at a lot of places and it is a case of somewhere we would be able to take her dog with us and whether we have access for her wheelchair.
“It is about finding somewhere she could access and it is easy for her. Everyone knew my mum and when I put the link to the fundraiser up on social media, a lot of people have reached out. We have an abundance of support, people wanting to help clean or pick up things for her.
“A lot of people know my mum personally and they have a story of what she did for them whether it was helping them at school or parents being helped out with something. She did a lot for people.”
The fundraiser will also help pay for any equipment Janice requires or any work to support her living at home. Describing his mother, Robbie said he is “one of the most unselfish, positive, happy individuals I've ever met” and has been a supportive figure in his life and others over the years. He added: “She's given us everything she's been financially, mentally, emotionally and physically capable of providing growing up and as adults. Her love for everybody around her is limitless. She could have a conversation with any stranger and become friends.
“The purest soul and such a wonderful loving mother and has been my best friend for many many years. The relationship my mother and I have is something quite special and many people around us echo this, especially now at this difficult time.
“Hence the love and support we've received. She honestly deserves the world.”
The fundraiser can be found through this link.
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