Dame Deborah James Wiki
Dame Deborah James Biography
Who was Dame Deborah James ?
Dame Deborah James died of bowel cancer at the age of 40.
The mother of two, known as BowelBabe to her legions of Instagram fans, was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer just days before Christmas in 2016, at the age of 35.
Death
Dame Deborah James has tragically died at the age of 40
Her family shared the tragic news in an Instagram post tonight, along with a stunning vacation photo of Deborah.
The mother of two has campaigned tirelessly for greater awareness of cancer symptoms.
After learning last month that she would be receiving hospice care at the end of her life, she began fundraising in earnest, with the total now topping a staggering £6.7m.
Her legions of fans across the country learned of her death in an Instagram post shared from her account tonight.
She says: “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dame Deborah James; the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mom. Deborah passed away peacefully today, surrounded by her family.
“Deborah, who many of you will know as Bowelbabe, was an inspiration and we are incredibly proud of her and her work and commitment to charity campaigns, fundraising and her endless efforts to raise awareness of the cancer that has affected so many. lives.
Family
“Deborah shared her experience with the world to raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation about cancer. Even in her most challenging times, her determination to raise money and awareness was inspiring.
“We thank you for giving us private time as a family, and look forward to continuing Deborah’s legacy in the future through @bowelbabefund.
“Thank you for playing her part in her journey, you are all amazing.”
True to form, the beloved national treasure had the last word.
He wrote a final missive to his followers before his death. His words were shared in the Instagram post tonight.
“Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; no regrets; and always, always have a rebellious hope,” she said.
“And finally, check your poop, it could save your life.”
Despite being told that she had an eight percent chance of living five years, she Deborah defied the odds against her.
After celebrating her 40th birthday last October, a birthday she never dreamed she’d live to see, the fearless activist marked the milestone of five years later.
Deborah shared every step of her journey with Sun readers in her Things Cancer Made Me Say column and her army of loyal social media fans.
She then presented the BBC’s award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C with fellow cancer patients Rachael Bland, who passed away in September 2018, Lauren Mahon and Rachael’s husband Steve.
In the five and a half years since her diagnosis, Deborah has changed the conversation about bowel cancer, raising vital awareness and breaking taboos.
She tirelessly beat the drum for F*** Cancer, writing a book of the same name, and vowed to do whatever she could to help others avoid her fate.
Her inspiration was the fierce love she had for her children, Eloise, 12, and Hugo, 14.
“And I want them to grow up to have no regrets, put their health first, live in the moment and make the most of every opportunity.
“In the end, you only regret the opportunities you didn’t take. Don’t procrastinate, don’t regret not seeing your loved ones.
“Get up and live in the moment, and make those memories now.”
Husband
And about her husband of 13 years, Deborah said in a column to celebrate her 40th birthday: “Seb is my support, he is the person who supports me at 3 a.m. when I am consumed by fear and crying, who holds it all together.
“He is a brilliant father and I know that if the day comes when I am not around, all my wishes for the children will come true.”
In her quest to break the ‘poop taboo’, she dressed up as the poop emoji to normalize conversations about changing bowel habits, a key symptom she experienced in the six months prior to her diagnosis. she.
Last summer, Deborah’s liver began to fail after the drug cocktail that had kept her alive stopped working.
Repeated operations to try to stent her bile duct left her facing bouts of sepsis, once battling a terrifying 40C fever.
In January, she was left fighting for her life after a “traumatic” emergency in which her husband of 13 years, Seb, rushed her to A&E, where doctors saved her life after discovering significant internal bleeding.
The former deputy director wrote a raw and honest column, revealing that it is the first time she has wondered if she would rather die than face her own cancer.
Time after time, however, Deborah, with the help of her devoted family and friends, recovered and faced more operations to try to repair her liver.
Even in her last days, the determined 40-year-old refused to stop.
With the help of her family, Deborah created the BowelBabe Foundation, to ensure that her efforts to raise awareness and vital funds continue long after she is gone.
Last month, Deborah was awarded the title of lady in just 24 hours after calls were made by Sun readers for her to be honored.
