Inspiring Laura hit by ‘bleak’ setback
THE MUM of a cancer sufferer who inspired Peter Kay to return for a special fundraiser says her “heart is broken” after revealing her daughter’s deadly tumour has returned.
Laura Nuttall’s life was turned upside down aged 18 when a routine eye test found glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer with eight tumours and was given 12 months to live.
She quit university and started a bucket list of wishes which made headlines around the world including meeting former US first lady Michelle Obama, commanding a tank, Royal Navy warship and meeting Gone Fishing duo Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse.
And she inspired funnyman Peter’s one-off comeback – after he quit due to family circumstances in 2017 – for a Q&A show in 2021 to help fund Laura’s treatment.
Laura, now 22, told him at the time: “You are a true legend and an absolute gentleman.”
But after her fourth brain surgery last month to remove new tumours, devoted mum Nicola took to Twitter this week to reveal the malignant growths have already returned.
Nicola, of Barrowford, Lancs, added the family are considering “moving Christmas forward” as the prognosis is “bleak” for Laura, whose illness was found when she had checks for joining the Navy. Nicola, 52, who also has daughter Gracie, 20, said: “Laura’s tumour has grown back within two weeks of surgery. Radiotherapy has been brought forward but things feel bleak. My heart is broken.”
She added that the family had looked into other treatments but Laura is “not a suitable candidate”.