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One of the best things that has happened since The Record was published was getting to meet Nicole Cooper in London back in 2019. Towards the end of 2018 I had a video chat with Nicole for her inclusion in the book. She lives in Melbourne with her husband Tim and son Joshua, and although it was a shame we could not meet up in person, I was grateful to modern technology for making her inclusion in the book possible. We were finally able to meet face-to-face in Trafalgar Square, when I could give Nicole her copy of the book in person.
Nicole has stage 4 bowel cancer, and the chapter covers her story from her awful diagnosis when she was told that her cancer was inoperable and the offer of palliative care, to getting a second opinion and grasping the small window of opportunity and fighting every step of the way since over the last few years. A short break in treatment allowed the family to make the trip to Europe, but Nicole has had more major life critical operations over the last couple of years since returning home. She has had to go through some brutal chemotherapy and her treatment continues, so my thoughts are with her as she continues to fight this awful disease. Last week she had more surgery and is currently in hospital in Melbourne unable to have visits from her family while the city is in lockdown.
Nicole is a passionate advocate of raising bowel cancer awareness and making changes to the whole way this disease is diagnosed and improving outcomes for everyone, especially in younger patients where bowel cancer is still regarded as an older person’s disease. You are never too young.
Nicole remains am exceptionally positive person. She is one of the nicest and kindest people you could wish to meet. Her wonderful @nicolecoopy Instagram account shows someone living with cancer. Please give her a follow and help to give her a bigger platform to continue her amazing and inspirational work that will hep bowel cancer patients globally. The reason she endures all the treatment and pushes herself to and past the limit time and time again is for her husband Tim, son Joshua and her lovely family. Her life…
The Record has raised over £1000 for Bowel Cancer UK since its publication. The book took me almost three years to complete following my mum’s death to bowel cancer in 2016. As well as Nicole it features some amazing and inspirational people from the bowel cancer community including Deborah “Bowel Babe” James, Dafydd Jones, Steve Clark, Lauren Backler, Greg Gilbert, Stacey Heale, Gillian Wood, Olivia Rowlands, Gina Shergold, Deborah Alsina and Kelly Smith who sadly became another young life lost to this disease.
I have made so many friendships through the bowel cancer fundraising which I began in 2012 after Mum had the initial operation on her bowel to remove the tumour. To finally get to meet Nicole in person was a real highlight for me, and I’m extremely grateful for all her support and allowing me to share her story in the book.
Please click here to see all the ways that you can buy The Record.
Or go to https://rivers2cross.com/product/the-record-charity-book/ to buy it direct from my website…
