Hi, my name is Lucy and I want to introduce you to Erin. It is currently 3:08am on Sunday 26th February 2023 and I am writing this from a camp bed in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. If I look to my right, my best friend is currently wrapped up in a blanket, asleep in a hospital bed. She looks peaceful. Comfortable. Pain-free. I wish I could say this was the case, but this is far from reality. This is Erin’s story.

In 2019, Erin was studying for her A-levels but, unlike most 17-year-olds, she also had to look after her mum who had been diagnosed with blood cancer that same year. As well as this, Erin had to deal with excruciating period pains due to her fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus) which she had surgically removed in November.

Despite this surgery, the pain returned and worsened in January until it couldn’t be ignored anymore, and she was rushed to the hospital. 2 days before her 18th birthday, Erin was diagnosed with a rare form of Uterine Sarcoma (Cancer of the uterus) and her life changed forever. Treatment consisted of a full hysterectomy soon after her 18th birthday and four 3-week cycles of chemotherapy. This included being attached to a chemo pump for 24 hours a day for 5 days just as the pandemic hit which meant that, due to restrictions, she had to do it all alone. Over those few months, the hair loss, sickness, and exhaustion she suffered was nothing compared to the mental trauma she and her family had to process, such as coming to terms with her infertility. She received the all-clear in August 2020.

With everything going on, Erin reluctantly had to withdraw from her A-levels, but she didn’t let this stop her and she found another way to follow her dream of going to university. In September 2020, Erin moved out of her home to attend a 1-year Access course to get the qualifications she needed whilst keeping her immunocompromised mother safe by living alone. She passed with flying colours and secured a place at De Montfort University to study Psychology with Criminology in September 2021.

This is when I met the lovely and bonkers, Erin. We became friends instantly through our matching sense of humour and bubbly personalities. For those of you who don’t know Erin, she is the most kind, caring, and selfless person I have ever met – not to mention the funniest too! She’s one of a kind. Who would have thought that I’d meet the best friend I’ve always hoped for during the first days of Freshers Week! We had an absolute blast living the uni life!

However, this didn’t last long because, in early February 2022, Erin was devastated to find the cancer had returned for the second time and underwent surgery to remove it. Life for her went from going out clubbing and tight-budget Tesco trips, to hospital rooms and CT scans. 2 months later, Erin was told that her cancer is life-limiting, with no cure and that all they could do is keep treating her until they can’t do anymore. Her prognosis is 2-3 years or 5-8 years. At just 20 years old Erin had received the worst news she possibly could, but nevertheless, she returned to university with a smile on her face.

In November 2022, she was again told that the cancer was back for a third time - a large tumour that has developed on her bladder. Erin had to go through Chemotherapy again. This is pretty much where she has been since then, with cycles of chemo followed by hospitalisation for a week to treat infection and neutropenic sepsis. Chemo for the second time has been just as hard if not harder and once again has thrown her plans to study for a degree into jeopardy.

Despite staying positive, Erin has one thing on her bucket list - to buy a second hand, cheap as possible, little van conversion so she can go travelling with her friends safely. She doesn’t know how long this chemo will last and staying overnight with friends and family is not possible due to her compromised immune system. To be able to see friends and family, some of which she hasn’t seen since the pandemic began, would mean everything to Erin. She would love to be able to go for days out and eat hot pub food in her van while she rests watching the sunset instead of being stuck indoors eating soggy takeaways. This would allow Erin to have her own space, even if it’s just parked up on the moor while she reads her favourite book. Most importantly, there are so many places in this country that Erin would love to visit. Hotels just aren’t suitable for someone with a weakened immune system and at the present time Erin is using a wheelchair, so travel is difficult. It’s not about the having, it’s about how much this would open up her world. It would allow her to travel the length and breadth of the U.K. with her friends or family making precious memories and fulfilling her dreams.

Erin is the strongest and kindest person I have ever met which is why I am so determined to make her life just that extra bit more special. So, friends, family, and strangers, please help my best friend achieve the one thing on her bucket list - She deserves the world! We love you, Erin!

Whether you donate £1 or £1000, any contributions will be so greatly appreciated and I will be eternally grateful for all the support!

More about Erin’s story can be found here:

1) https://inews.co.uk/news/mum-daughter-cancer-remission-son-return-school-shielding-fears-1189681

2) https://metro.co.uk/2021/04/15/mum-and-daughter-share-tandem-cancer-journeys-after-double-diagnosis-14413096/amp/