Kim Rackley, 30, found a lump in early pregnancy but put it down to changes in her body and didn’t think much more of it. But three months later when she realised the lump was still there, the expectant mum, from Gillingham, Kent, started to worry.
After visiting a doctor to get it checked out, the mental health support worker received the heartbreaking news that she had Grade 2 breast cancer.
Kim’s baby, Leo, had to be delivered via C-section just five days after her cancer diagnosis, when she was 35 weeks pregnant.
Baby Leo, now seven months old, started his life in the NICU but is now a perfectly healthy boy.
Kim’s friend Chloe Odell, from Chatham, in the southeast of England, is now raising funds to help her pal pay her bills while she undergoes chemotherapy treatment.
Chloe said: “Kim’s maternity pay is coming to an end and obviously she is not in a position to go back to work with chemo starting next week.
“With the cost of living going up it would be great to take some of that stress away from her and [her partner] Kris [Naylor] and help cover their living expenses.”
Launching a fundraiser on GoFundMe, Chloe from Chatham, South East England, is aiming to raise £3000 to “Help Kim Pay The Bills During Chemo.”
Describing Kim’s cancer diagnosis, Chloe said: “In a matter of days Kim had gone from excitedly awaiting the arrival of Leo to finding out she has cancer and having a baby that was in NICU.
“Leo is now a healthy seven-month-old boy and you wouldn’t know the rocky start he had.
“After Kim’s first two surgeries were unsuccessful, the third finally had clear margins and she is now able to start her chemotherapy. She has faced cancer, surgery and heartbreaking results all whilst coping with a new baby.
“She has taken on motherhood and cancer with a superhuman level of strength and humour I can barely comprehend. She is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met and the type of friend we would all hope to be.
“So, when Kim told me how tight things were getting I knew we had to do something to help.
“Fiercely independent always but she is there for everyone and deserves to fight cancer without worrying about where the money to pay the bills is coming from.”
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, according to the NHS.
Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer.
Breast cancer can have several symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by a doctor.
Sharing an update on her treatment on Monday, July 25, Kim said: “Today is finally the day I start chemo. If someone had told me a year ago what my life would be like I would never have believed them.
“From the euphoria of finally being pregnant, and growing a tiny human after three miscarriages, to the devastating news that I have cancer and my precious baby boy will be delivered in five days, to watching him struggle in the NICU was the hardest part of this whole journey so far.
“Two unsuccessful surgeries to remove the cancer and save my boob along with clearing all of my lymph nodes leaving me with massive parts of my arm and shoulder that have no feeling and regularly get shooting pains as my nerves panic.
“One final successful surgery when I found out in total they removed 19cm of cancer. Being told by doctors over and over that they didn’t expect there to be so much, didn’t expect it to be so bad, and now onto an aggressive chemo course to rid my body of it for good.
“A lot has changed over the last year but a lot has stayed the same. I’ve still got amazing friends and family who will do anything for me. I’ve met a load of new absolutely amazing people who have stood by my side despite only knowing me for a number of months.
“I’ve watched my boy go from struggling to breathe in the NICU and battling with a milk allergy to being a happy, healthy, albeit a bit gobby, beautiful boy. And through it all I’ve had Kris by my side to pick me up each time I’ve got down.
“I honestly wouldn’t be where I am now without the support of those closest to me.”
You can find the fundraiser here.
You can also find out more about breast cancer on the NHS website.
