{"id":684,"date":"2026-04-19T15:09:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T15:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=684"},"modified":"2026-04-19T15:09:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T15:09:52","slug":"my-beautiful-whirlwind-of-a-girl-is-gone-but-her-spirit-lives-on-says-dame-deborah-james-mum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=684","title":{"rendered":"My beautiful whirlwind of a girl is gone \u2013 but her spirit lives on, says Dame Deborah James\u2019 mum"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"single__header m-bottom\">\n<header class=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"article-headline-section\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-headline-section\">\n<h1 class=\"article-header__headline\"><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-header__subdeck\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-header__subdeck\">\n<p>Mum Heather treasures the final Mother\u2019s Day together they spent together two years ago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-header__meta\" aria-label=\"Byline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-header__meta\">\n<div class=\"byline meta meta--byline\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"date meta meta--byline date--updated\" aria-label=\"Date published\/updated\">\n<div class=\"date--updated__item\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"single__content entry-content m-bottom article__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-tnl-wp-lead-asset-lead-asset\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_10651844\" class=\"wp-caption\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10651844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1500w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=768,512&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=1024,683&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=600,400&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=878,585&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=744,496&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=720,480&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 720w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=576,384&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=457,305&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=440,293&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=424,282&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=389,260&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=360,240&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=340,227&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=320,213&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=314,209&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=306,204&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=280,187&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=260,174&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=246,164&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=234,156&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=195,130&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=180,120&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=171,114&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=160,107&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/dk-deb-j-4mar_COMP-1.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 322w, 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alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"social-icons\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-twitter\"><a class=\"social-icons__icon social-icons__icon--twitter\" title=\"Click to share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-sun.com%2Flifestyle%2F10651863%2Fdeborah-james-death-heather-mothers-day&amp;text=My%20beautiful%20girl%20is%20gone%20%E2%80%93%20but%20her%20spirit%20lives%20on,%20says%20Deborah%20James%E2%80%99%20mum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"sharing-twitter-10651863\"><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-facebook\"><a class=\"social-icons__icon social-icons__icon--facebook\" title=\"Click to share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-sun.com%2Flifestyle%2F10651863%2Fdeborah-james-death-heather-mothers-day&amp;t=My%20beautiful%20girl%20is%20gone%20%E2%80%93%20but%20her%20spirit%20lives%20on,%20says%20Deborah%20James%E2%80%99%20mum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-shared=\"sharing-facebook-10651863\"><span class=\"sharing-screen-reader-text\">Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>IN June 2022, Heather James, 66, held her daughter Dame Deborah James\u2019 hand as she passed away, five years after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Here, Heather shares her experience of being mum to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/who\/deborah-james\/\" rel=\"\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"in-article links\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/who\/deborah-james\/\">the trailblazing campaigner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--thesun aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module \">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">Sign up for\u00a0<span class=\"newsletter-name theme-main\">The US Sun<\/span>\u00a0newsletter<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<form class=\"inline-module__form wp-block-gtf-editor-newsletter-signup-form\" data-nypost-editor=\"newsletter-block\" data-newsletter-list-id=\"news\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__inputs\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__input email-signup\">\n<div class=\"floating-label input-container input-container--floating-label\">\n<p><input id=\"newsletter-block-email-27\" class=\"floating-label__input floating-label__input--email\" name=\"email\" type=\"email\" placeholder=\" \" 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data-slideshow-slides-total=\"4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-10651851\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=768\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1440w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=240,300&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 240w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=768,960&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 768w, 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https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=515,644&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 515w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=393,491&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 393w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=226,282&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 226w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=165,206&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 165w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=57,71&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 57w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=32,40&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 32w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=56,70&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 56w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=43,54&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 43w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=160,200&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=231,289&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=322,402&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=300,375&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=353,441&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 353w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=48,60&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 48w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=64,80&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 64w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=280,350&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=340,425&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=680,850&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 680w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_null_132423jpg-JS775115007.jpg?resize=40,50&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 40w\" alt=\"Deborah and Heather James\" width=\"768\" height=\"960\" \/><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon-text\"><span data-slideshow-modal=\"count\">4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heather James shares the heartbreaking experience of losing daughter Dame Deborah<span class=\"credit\">Credit: Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10651855\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\">\n<div class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__wrapper\"><a title=\"Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/lifestyle\/10651863\/deborah-james-death-heather-mothers-day\/#\" aria-controls=\"nyp-slideshow-modal\" data-slideshow-modal=\"trigger\" aria-label=\"Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.\" data-slideshow-slide-number=\"2\" data-slideshow-slides-total=\"4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-10651855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=768\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1080w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=240,300&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 240w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=768,960&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=819,1024&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 819w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=480,600&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 480w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=471,589&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 471w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=397,496&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 397w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=515,644&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 515w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=393,491&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 393w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=226,282&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 226w, 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https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=160,200&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=231,289&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=322,403&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=300,375&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=353,441&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 353w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=48,60&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 48w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=64,80&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 64w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=280,350&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=340,425&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=680,850&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 680w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelgran_224042jpg-JS743648608.jpg?resize=40,50&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 40w\" alt=\"Heather James, Wife, mother of 3 including @bowelbabe - grandmother to 4.\" width=\"768\" height=\"960\" \/><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon-text\"><span data-slideshow-modal=\"count\">4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Late Sun columnist Dame Deborah passed away in June 2022<span class=\"credit\">Credit: Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI brought my daughter into the world, and I was with her when she left it.<\/p>\n<p>Holding Deborah\u2019s hand as she\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/5660118\/deborah-james-sun-columnist-dies-aged-40\/\" rel=\"\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"in-article links\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/5660118\/deborah-james-sun-columnist-dies-aged-40\/\">took her final breath in June 2022<\/a>, I felt so much sadness, but also relief \u2013 my beautiful whirlwind of a girl was gone, but her pain was also over.<\/p>\n<p>To be a mum to a child who is no longer alive is hard every day, but especially on Mother\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll always be a mum of three, even though one of my children is gone, but today my focus isn\u2019t on myself, it\u2019s on my grandchildren Hugo, 16, and Eloise, 14, who\u2019ve lost their incredible mummy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-readmore__error\">No data found<\/div>\n<div id=\"outstream\"><\/div>\n<p>They can\u2019t give her a card or gift, or just enjoy one of her lovely cuddles.<\/p>\n<p>All I can do is pour my love into them today, as I have done every day for the past 21 months, and be there for them.<\/p>\n<p>Dame Deborah James, my eldest daughter, died aged 40, five-and-a-half years after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s still hard to fathom that the world has carried on without her \u2013 ever since she was tiny, she was such a force of nature.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rail-container rail-container--full-width rail-container--white\">\n<div class=\"rail rail--classic article theme-lifestyle\">\n<div class=\"rail__header\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"rail__items\">\n<div class=\"rail__item\">\n<div class=\"rail__item-headline\">\n<div class=\"rail__item-headline_inner\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"rail__item-teaser\">Social Security payments set for major overhaul under new &#8216;calculation&#8217; bill<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Deborah, who worked as a teacher, was diagnosed in December 2016 when she was just 35, and her children were nine and seven.<\/p>\n<p>She was a fit, active young woman, a vegetarian and a non-smoker, but was losing weight, passing blood when she went to the loo and feeling exhausted.<\/p>\n<p>Initially, it was put down to stress or IBS, so the news she actually had bowel cancer was devastating.<\/p>\n<p>But I believed she\u2019d have an operation and chemotherapy, then be back to normal soon.<\/p>\n<p>It was a few weeks, and more tests before I was shocked out of that blissful ignorance by the news it was stage four cancer.<\/p>\n<p>I wasn\u2019t remotely surprised by the courage and determination that Deborah showed \u2013 that was just how she was.<\/p>\n<p>And it wasn\u2019t enough for her to face her own illness \u2013 she wanted to help others, too.<\/p>\n<p>She was consumed by a need to shout from the rooftops about cancer, the signs and symptoms, and the importance of listening to your body.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018She longed to make the world a better place for her children\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Shortly after her diagnosis, she started her Bowelbabe blog and began writing a column for The Sun.<\/p>\n<p>From there, she co-hosted hit podcast You, Me And The Big C, campaigned with The Sun to lower the NHS screening age, urged people to get checked, and talked about poo whenever she got the opportunity.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10651858\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\">\n<div class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__wrapper\"><a title=\"Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/lifestyle\/10651863\/deborah-james-death-heather-mothers-day\/#\" aria-controls=\"nyp-slideshow-modal\" data-slideshow-modal=\"trigger\" aria-label=\"Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.\" data-slideshow-slide-number=\"3\" data-slideshow-slides-total=\"4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-10651858\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=769\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1080w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=240,300&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 240w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=768,959&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=820,1024&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 820w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=480,600&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 480w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=472,589&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 472w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=397,496&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 397w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=516,644&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 516w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=393,491&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 393w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=226,282&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 226w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=165,206&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 165w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=57,71&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 57w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=32,40&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 32w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=56,70&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 56w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=43,54&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 43w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=160,200&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=231,289&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=322,402&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=300,375&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=353,441&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 353w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=48,60&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 48w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=64,80&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 64w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=769,960&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 769w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=280,350&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=340,425&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=680,850&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 680w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/Sun_Instagram_image_download_bowelbabe_163941jpg-JS678767474.jpg?resize=40,50&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 40w\" alt=\"Deborah James, husband and children\" width=\"769\" height=\"960\" \/><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon-text\"><span data-slideshow-modal=\"count\">4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Deborah James with husband Seb and kids Hugo and Eloise<span class=\"credit\">Credit: Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At the heart of it all were her children. She longed to make the world a better place for Hugo and Eloise, and dreamed of a future where they wouldn\u2019t have to fear cancer.<\/p>\n<p>That was the inspiration for one of her biggest and final initiatives, the Bowelbabe Fund.<\/p>\n<p>She set it up in the weeks before she died to pay for research and help find new treatments for cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing her time was running out, she put every last ounce of energy into it.<\/p>\n<p>However, Deborah\u2019s legacy is far from limited to the work she did and the lives she has saved \u2013 and continues to save.<\/p>\n<p>Her true gift to all of us were her lessons in how to live life.<\/p>\n<p>She squeezed every single drop of joy out of every day, and it\u2019s something I see shining brightly in her children. They both share her energy and passion.<\/p>\n<p>The weekend before she died, she told them they must live a life worth living.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018\u2018You never know when life will be taken away from you, so grab every moment and live,\u201d she said. I try to follow that mantra, too.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m prone to putting things off and saving all the best things for \u201chigh days and holidays\u201d. Deborah would tell me off! She was the complete opposite \u2013 she\u2019d wear her favourite dresses, just because.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve tried to channel that bold, bright outlook since she died.<\/p>\n<p>I get dressed up for no reason, I\u2019ve started wearing sparkly earrings like she did and I try to live in the moment more. It helps me feel closer to her.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018I hated that I couldn\u2019t take away her pain\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>When Deborah was first diagnosed with bowel cancer, she was told it was unlikely she\u2019d live for a year.<\/p>\n<p>I struggled to comprehend it. How could I be faced with losing my daughter in a matter of months?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10651861\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\">\n<div class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__wrapper\"><a title=\"Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/lifestyle\/10651863\/deborah-james-death-heather-mothers-day\/#\" aria-controls=\"nyp-slideshow-modal\" data-slideshow-modal=\"trigger\" aria-label=\"Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.\" data-slideshow-slide-number=\"4\" data-slideshow-slides-total=\"4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-10651861\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=960\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1000w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=300,221&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=768,564&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=600,441&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=801,589&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 801w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=675,496&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 675w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=576,423&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=440,323&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=384,282&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 384w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=180,132&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=97,71&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 97w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=54,40&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 54w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=95,70&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 95w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=73,54&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 73w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=200,147&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=231,170&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=322,237&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=82,60&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 82w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=109,80&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 109w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=960,706&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 960w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/03\/WhatsApp_Image_2022-05-13_at_64128_PM__2_jpeg-JS732693614-1.jpg?resize=50,37&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 50w\" alt=\"Friday 13th May 2022, Deborah James receives her Damehood from Prince William.Keywords: Wills, Duke Of Cambridge, Dame, Medal, Badge, Cancer\" width=\"960\" height=\"706\" \/><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image__icon-text\"><span data-slideshow-modal=\"count\">4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dame Deborah receiving her damehood from Prince William in May 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thanks to treatment, though, and her own inner strength, Deborah beat the odds again and again.<\/p>\n<p>She endured so much, from a bowel resection to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and numerous cocktails of powerful drugs. She refused to give in.<\/p>\n<p>On our final Mother\u2019s Day together in March 2022, she was very poorly, but determined to come to my home for lunch.<\/p>\n<p>I treasure the memories of that day \u2013 I really didn\u2019t believe it would be our last together, because time and time again, she\u2019d bounce back.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t until Deborah left The Royal Marsden Hospital in May 2022, having been told there was nothing more doctors could do and that she had just days to live, that I was forced to confront my biggest fear.<\/p>\n<p>As her mum, I felt completely helpless. I hated that I couldn\u2019t take away her pain.<\/p>\n<p>But she moved into our house, and we had seven weeks together, which gave us all a chance to make precious memories.<\/p>\n<p>She organised movie nights, hosted an impromptu engagement party for her brother Ben, 33, and his fianc\u00e9e, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/who\/prince-william\/\" rel=\"\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"in-article links\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/who\/prince-william\/\">Prince William<\/a>\u00a0even came over for tea after\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/where\/buckingham-palace\/\" rel=\"\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"in-article links\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/where\/buckingham-palace\/\">Buckingham Palace<\/a>\u00a0announced her damehood.<\/p>\n<p>It was a surreal time, both sad and wonderful, and filled with love. I\u2019ll never forget it.<\/p>\n<p>Most nights I sat up with Deborah, as neither of us could sleep \u2013 both terrified she might not wake up.<\/p>\n<p>We talked and talked, I told her how strong she was, and I promised her I\u2019d be there for her children.<\/p>\n<p>It was like having my baby back \u2013 my dying adult daughter needed me, she depended on me again. We were inseparable and our bond grew stronger and stronger.<\/p>\n<p>When she passed away, I was holding her hand. Her final moments were peaceful and I feel grateful for that, after all she\u2019d endured.<\/p>\n<p>The first year after her death, I was running on adrenalin. I threw myself into supporting Deborah\u2019s husband Seb, 44, and the children.<\/p>\n<p>I kept busy to distract myself from my pain and I didn\u2019t really process my grief.<\/p>\n<p>Then, as the anniversary of her death approached, I was crippled with panic attacks, which got so bad I could barely leave the house.<\/p>\n<p>Everything had caught up with me and I was physically and emotionally exhausted.<\/p>\n<p>Despite being reluctant at first, I was prescribed antidepressants, but I also find just talking about Deborah and looking at photos of her very therapeutic.<\/p>\n<p>By the start of this year, I felt more positive. My daughter Sarah\u2019s 40th was last month, and my son Ben is getting married in April.<\/p>\n<p>Deborah is so missed on these special days, but we know she would want us to enjoy them for her.<\/p>\n<p>Deborah is gone, but her spirit lives on, both through her work raising awareness and fund-raising, which is ongoing, and in her family, especially her children.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mum Heather treasures the final Mother\u2019s Day together they spent together two years ago Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=684"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":687,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684\/revisions\/687"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}