Hi my name is Sam and I’m fundraising for my daughter Jenny who is 25 years old.

In 2022 we got the awful news that my daughter had cancer…and an extremely rare cancer at that. Thymoma: Thymic Gland cancer.

After 6 gruelling rounds of chemotherapy followed a few months later by an 11 hour operation to remove her right lung, some pericardial sac, some of her SVC vein and some of her diaphragm, we were told by the surgeon that he was confident he had removed it all.

It was a terrifying time for Jenny, and our usually so independent daughter had a 3 month recuperation at home with us when she initially could do nothing for herself at all. She determinedly built her strength back up to move out again back to Leeds and then it was 3 monthly scans and regular oncology appointments.

In September 2023 she was told there was still no sign of cancer and she could move to being scanned every 6 months. At this point she decided to ‘ring the bell’

In January this year Jenny began to get some severe back pain that she was told was sciatica. The back pain got worse but after her usual CT scan in March, we were told it was still clear and there was no sign of cancer. So we heaved a massive sigh of relief and presumed it was indeed sciatica.

The pain got so bad and she became very unsteady and fell several times so was finally referred to the MSK clinic. At Jenny’s appointment on May 14th, she was immediately sent to the cancer wing at St James Hospital in Leeds and phoned me to tell me. She said they had sent her there so tests would be done quickly. I said I would be there in the morning. However, at 4.30am on 15th May I got a phone call from the ward saying I needed to come now! At 10am we were given the dreaded news that cancer had returned and it was round her spine in 3 places. She was by then almost paralysed and could not feel her lower right leg at all. She had emergency spinal surgery at 12.30pm that day and spent the next 3 days in the High Dependency Unit. On Sunday 26th May she was discharged, and we once again brought her home to recuperate. Again, she depended on us completely and couldn’t walk further than a few steps with the use of a walking frame.

An oncology appointment then happened a week later and Jenny was referred for a PET scan so they could see what cancer was left and where they needed to direct the radiotherapy, which was the next planned treatment.

After the PET scan we got the absolutely unbelievable and devastating news that it had spread further and was in her lymph nodes and the remains of her pleura. Not only that but it is incurable.

Treatable but incurable!

Jenny is now having chemotherapy again and we are all remaining positive and hopeful that after this lot of treatment, the cancer will go into hibernation for several years. when it does, Jenny wants to travel - she’s always said she wants to travel- so we want to raise some funds to tick off those places on her wish list: California, Australia, Japan and Dubai for a start!

I know I am biased but Jenny is remarkable. She has been as positive as possible and so strong and determined that she continues to inspire me daily. But ultimately to know she will never be completely rid of this cancer is a bloody awful prospect to face- for anyone, never mind when you’re only 25!

Honestly- every little will help her to enjoy the times when she can do. None of us know what our future brings. Just typing this is so tough.

Thank you