Cancer lady Deborah James is “completely lost in words” after raising more than £ 5 million for charity after revealing on Monday that she is receiving care at the end of her life.
This comes just hours after the 40-year-old BBC podcast was named queen by the Queen for her commitment to raising awareness and funding for bowel cancer following her shock diagnosis in 2016.
The monarch praised the tragic mother of two, saying she was “pleased” to approve the woman’s name, while the prime minister said that “if honor has ever been fully deserved, it is”.
In an Instagram post on Friday night, Lady Deborah wrote: “Thanks to an incredibly generous donation earlier today and to every single person who has donated to @bowelbabefund, we have just reached the incredible total of £ 5 million.
“We are completely lost in words. All this is beyond anything we can imagine. The last five days have been surreal.
She added: “Thank you for putting a huge smile on my face and helping us launch a legacy to hopefully influence the latest cancer care in a lifetime.”
Since she was diagnosed with bowel cancer six years ago, the former director has kept more than 500,000 followers on Instagram with her treatment.
She has now raised more than £ 5.1 million with her Bowelbabe fund for cancer research in the UK – an average of more than £ 1.2 million a day this week.
Having set her initial target of £ 250,000, she has already raised her target more than 20 times.
On Thursday night, number 10 confirmed that James should become a lady, saying: “The Queen is pleased to approve the honor of being awarded to Deborah James.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “If honor has ever been fully deserved, it is. Deborah was an inspiration, and her honesty, warmth and courage are a source of strength for so many people.
Deborah James (pictured) was honored after raising millions of pounds for charity since Monday, when she revealed she was receiving care at the end of her life.
The former director (pictured right, with children Eloise, 12, Hugo, 14 and husband Sebastian Bowen) was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and has maintained more than 500,000 followers on Instagram over the course of her treatment.
Deborah James has written letters and bought gifts for her children Hugo at 14 and daughter Eloise at 12 and wants to hug them one last time before she dies.
The nation has been thrilled by its tragic history in recent days, with at least £ 1 million in donations now made daily on the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK page it has created. Over £ 5.1 million today (pictured)
The queen praised the tragic mother of two, saying she was “pleased” to approve the woman’s name yesterday, while the prime minister said that “if honor has ever been fully deserved, it is”.
On Thursday night, number 10 confirmed that James should become a lady, saying, “The Queen is pleased to approve the honor of honoring Deborah James.” Pictured is Deborah James (left) with her family on Mother’s Day this year
Deborah James explained how she had “difficult conversations” with the children, but trusted her husband Sebastian Bowen, a London banker with whom she had been married for more than 13 years. She urged him to find love again, as long as it wasn’t a “bomb”
Deborah James, 40, pictured, announced earlier this week in a heartbreaking announcement that active treatment for her bowel cancer had stopped and she was being moved to a home care hospice.
“Through her tireless campaign and so open sharing of her experience, she has not only helped in our fight against this terrible disease, she has ensured that countless others with the Big C do not feel alone.
“I hope that this recognition from Her Majesty – supported, I am sure from all over the country – will provide some comfort to Deborah and her family in this difficult time. My thoughts are with them and Deborah should know that she has the love and gratitude of the country.
Now she has revealed her shock at becoming a lady, telling The Sun: “I don’t know what to say. I admire and feel incredible honor. I don’t feel I deserve it. I can’t tell you what this means for my family, I have to accept so much.
Ms James said she would like the fundraiser to reach £ 5 million by the weekend.
Lady Deborah’s children Hugo and Eloise said they were “silent” and “so, so proud”, while husband Seb said that the lady was “something she would never have dreamed of, but is so truly deserved”.
Ladies ‘and knights’ titles are usually listed in New Year’s or Queen’s birthdays, but in exceptional circumstances some are announced at other times.
The teacher, who has become a podcast, has stirred millions by announcing in a heartbreaking message that active treatment for her bowel cancer has stopped and she is moving to a hospice home to die.
The mother of two is preparing to spend her last hours in her parents’ lawn, surrounded by the family, drinking champagne after hospice nurses told her, “You’re dying, you can drink whatever you want.”
In a recent tearful newspaper interview, she said last night: “The only thing my family knows is that I’m petrified, I’m alone. I don’t want to die alone. And when she was asked about the end of her life, she said: “I have moments when I just cry uncontrollably, but I can’t spend my last days crying, it would be such a loss. So I’m trying to separate my death.
She said she started her “death list” to support her son Hugo, 14, and daughter Eloise, 12, when she was gone, and urged her husband, Sebastian, to find love, with the stipulation: “Don’t walk, do not marry a prostitute.
Lady Deborah said she had written letters to her children to help them with their first dates and wedding days, and would buy Hugo a “nice pen, wallet or cufflinks” and Eloise “Tiffany bracelets and earrings” to remember her – as well as some gifts and postcards from her for the future.
Her funeral, where she will be cremated, is also planned, but she hopes her ashes will remain in the family kitchen “for a while” before being scattered.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also paid tribute to the BBC’s cancer podcast, saying she had “taken the heart of the nation” after her fundraising exceeded £ 3.3 million yesterday and continues to grow at a rate of £ 1. million every 24 hours.
Steve Bland, co-host of the You, Me And The Big C podcast, along with Deborah James, praised the bowel cancer fighter after her research fundraising initiative reached £ 4 million.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, he said: “It’s amazing, but that’s what Deborah is doing. Deborah handles extraordinary things. This is what she has been doing for five years.
“Everyone’s been focusing on the last five days, but in fact, Deb has been doing it for five years since she was diagnosed with incurable cancer five years ago, and she’s just been trying to help people ever since.
“She beats the drum over and over, over and over and over again – on the symptoms of bowel cancer, working hard to approve drugs that she knew would help her, but would help many others.
“While the last five days have been amazing – £ 4 million is amazing – there are people all over the country walking around and enjoying their children’s birthdays because it actually saved their lives.”
Bland said James sent him a message saying she would be watching the interview from her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey, where she received care at the end of her life.
He added: “I do not know what purpose he will have in mind now. Five, I guess.
In a heartbreaking interview with The Times, Deborah also revealed how she will write letters for her children to open after she dies, including tips on how to act on a first date or what to do on their wedding day.
Ms James said she had been in hospital for months, but since she had been cared for in a hospice, she had planned her last hours on the lawn with her family to drink champagne, with staff joking with her: “You’re dying, you can to drink whatever you want. ‘
The nation has been thrilled by its tragic history in recent days, with at least £ 1 million in donations now made every day for its Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK page, which it has set up.
Earlier, Ms. James said she wanted to die at her parents’ house in Woking to spare her 14-year-old son Hugo and 12-year-old daughter Eloise from constant reminders at their London home, which she will not visit again. because of the stairs. . She said, “I can’t use my legs anymore and I’m incredibly weak … my husband has to lift me up for everything.”
She explained how she had to break the news to the children, but trusted her husband, Sebastian Bowen, a London banker whom she married in 2008.
The couple separated briefly seven years later and began divorce proceedings, but soon reunited after agreeing to consult to be on better terms with their children.
Speaking to The Times, she revealed that she had given him “strict instructions” to her “amazing” husband Sebastian Bowen to find love again after her death.
“It was disgusting to tell my children. My husband Sebastian was amazing, he dumped everything and is with me 24/7. My first thought was [that] I don’t want my children to see me like that. I didn’t think I could talk to them without crying, but I would like to hug them one last time.
“We had a series of emotional conversations that quickly escalated from supportive care to end-of-life care.
“My husband Sebastian was amazing, he dropped everything and is with me 24/7.
“My first thought was [that] I don’t want my children to see me like that. I didn’t think I could talk to them without crying, but I would like to hug them one last time.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to BBC cancer podcaster Deborah James, …
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