Writing this is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. If you know me, you know I’ve spent my life in classrooms promoting healthy eating and nutrition, always preferring to be the one offering a helping hand rather than the one asking for one. Reaching out for financial support feels incredibly uncomfortable, and I am so sorry to find ourselves in this position.

The Road We’ve Travelled

I have been navigating a colon cancer diagnosis since February 2024. In December 2024, after a successful operation and 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy, we were given the news we had all been praying for—a clean scan and an "all clear." We celebrated that moment with everything we had, believing the worst was finally behind us.

Sadly, that relief was short-lived. In April 2025, I became ill again, much to the shock of the surgeons who had previously treated me. While back on treatment, we discovered that serious mistakes had been made with the prescribing of my initial chemotherapy. I received a formal apology from the hospital for this error, but the mistakes didn't end there.

After seeking a second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic, a review of those same "all clear" scans revealed a devastating truth: the cancer had still been there. Because it went undetected and untreated for five critical months, the situation has become far more complex.

The Fight for Accountability

We have spent almost a year battling the Health Board and the Scottish Government for accountability. While we hoped for a response that matched the urgency of my health, the reality has been heartbreaking. When we raised the severity of the misdiagnosis with the Cabinet Secretary for Health, the response we received was a generic letter suggesting we "call Macmillan" for emotional support.

To be offered a phone number for a charity instead of a clinical solution—after the system's own errors allowed my disease to progress—has been appalling. We are still fighting for the government to take responsibility, but my health cannot wait for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn as they continue to kick the can down the street.

Why we are fundraising

I am now in the care of the Cleveland Clinic in London to undergo a specialised surgery and treatment plan that offers me the best possible chance to get well again. Because of the delay in my diagnosis, the specific surgical expertise I need right now isn’t available to me through the NHS or indeed in Scotland.

We simply cannot afford to wait any longer for the system to fix its mistakes. To give me a path back to health and back to my family, we have had to make the daunting decision to go private. The cost for this specialised care is £115,000.

Our humble request

We hate that it has come to this. We are asking for your help to fund this vital treatment. Whether it’s a small donation, a share of this page, or a kind word of support, please know that we don't take a single bit of it for granted. Every donation is a step closer to me getting back to being the mum, wife, and teacher I want to be.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and for helping us fight for the future.

With love and gratitude,

Carla, Graeme and Family