Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘My life expectancy is until October but I am determined to see one more Christmas Day’
TO BE able to spend one more Christmas with her family and friends is the ultimate dream for Dundee’s Sophy Mitchell.
Sophy, 30, from Hilltown, was told last month she has just six months to live after her cervical cancer spread to her bones.
A learning and digital resources specialist with Dundee and Angus College, she is now determined to outlive that prognosis and enjoy one more festive season with husband Kevin and the rest of her family.
She said: “My original life expectancy takes me to the end of October.
“However, I am determined to have one more set of festivities and a Christmas Day.”
Sophy was diagnosed with cervical cancer on April 29 – only a couple weeks after she returned from a holiday in Benidorm with Kevin, mum Sandra Shand and best friend Stephanie Henderson.
Then came the news her cancer is terminal.
She has just completed 10 rounds of radiotherapy in a bid to prolong her life but she said it was “tough.”
Sophy said: “At times during the 10 rounds of radiotherapy I felt close to giving up.
“Between the tiredness, sickness, diarrhoea and stomach pains, I wasn’t having it plain sailing.
“I had to cancel visits from loved ones which was hard.
“However, I do feel the treatment has helped but I still have dreadful leg pain.
“My left leg is so weak that I am going to have to start using a wheelchair or zimmer (frame).
“I really didn’t want to be doing that as I’ve always been so busy and independent but if it means I can get to follow my plans then that’s the way it has to be.”
Sophy is also determined to carry out as many of the dreams on her bucket list as she possibly can.
She said: “During July and August, I will be using my wheelchair and touring the St Andrews hotels, having a caravan holiday with my family, visiting Gleneagles and going to Dunkeld.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated to my fundraising page. There’s now more than £14,000 which is going to help us do a lot.”
Sophy has just been able to enjoy a weekend at home but is now back in hospital.
She said: “I had an amazing weekend at home. I was just being lazy, in my own home and it has been wonderful. I had a chance to look through all my amazing gifts and cards properly.
“All I can keep saying is thank you, thank you and thank you.
“I am so lucky and blessed to have so many amazing people around me.”
Sophy also had time to reflect on her Zoom chat with the Loose Women team – organised after we revealed that talking to the team was the absolute top of her bucket list.
She said: “It was good. We just had a general chat and they sent me the recording for a keepsake and a goody bag with lots of nice gifts and wished me all the best.”
Sophy is now waiting for another meeting with the oncologist to see if any other treatment can be offered.
She said: “In the meantime I really want to raise awareness. I had up-to-date smears but had other symptoms I wasn’t happy with.
“If something isn’t right do what you can. If I could turn back the clock I would.
“I’m going to remain optimistic and take it a month at a time and spend as much time with loved ones as possible.”
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