Bowel cancer teen was our ‘little lioness’
THE parents of a ‘lioness’ teenage girl who became one of the youngest people to die from bowel cancer in the UK said she had ‘no chance’ of surviving the ‘horrific disease’.
Student Charlotte Simpson died peacefully aged just 18 at her Whiteley home surrounded by her fa mily on May 22 – just four months after she was diagnosed with the ter minal illness.
The teenager complained of acute stomach pain i n October last year but it was not until she had a colonoscopy on January 16 at Southampton General Hospital that doctors i dentified t he cancer.
Tests then confir med the devastating news that Charlotte had stage f our bowel cancer.
Charlotte’s parents Sarah, 46, and dad David, 48, revealed the tor ment their brave daughter went through before she died and now want to raise awareness of the illness – typically only thought to affect the over 50s – in young people.
‘Our beautiful Charlotte lost her short battle on the May 22 at 10.50am just four months after her shocking diagnosis of bowel cancer,’ they posted on bereavement support and fundraising site Funeral Guide.
‘She fought and fought the vile horrific disease but had absolutely no chance whatsoever.
‘She went t hrough pure agony every day over t he past few months and never complained...the bravest most amazing little lioness.’
The parents went on to praise ‘ beautiful and kind soul’ Charlotte who had the ‘sweetest and politest personality’ and was someone who had ‘ such a special gift to make everyone she ever met feel so very special and so loved’.
Charlotte, whose f uneral took place on June 11 at Posbrook Lane Cemetery in Titchfied, also leaves behind a 15-year-old brother.
Bowel Cancer UK posted on Twitter: ‘Charlotte Simpson was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer at the age of 17 and sadly died at just 18.
‘We’re incredibly grateful to her mum Sarah f or sharing her story to raise awareness of bowel cancer in young people.’
Well-wishers have donated on the fundraising page helping to raise over £2,800 for Rowans Hospice and just under £4,300 to Teenage Cancer Trust. To donate go to: www.funeralguide.co.uk/ obituaries/77842