Single mom was dying of cancer — then a life-changing gift from her ex-husband's new wife gave her more time
Medicine and technology have become far advanced in treating many serious and chronic conditions. However, it is humanity and support that add to these procedures to aid recovery, hope and healing. A woman named Nicola Hitchen was told that she didn’t have much time after her cancer diagnosis, per the Independent. Despite being told nothing could be done for her, she chose to try chemotherapy. During the process, an immense gesture of support from her ex-husband’s wife became a life-changing gift for her. Hitchen complained of pain, and when she visited the doctors in March 2017, they initially found a pelvic abscess and sepsis.
Later, a tumor was discovered in her cervix. As they couldn’t start treatment until the infection was out, the mom’s cancer went from stage 2 to stage 4. When doctors told her nothing could be done, the family looked for options that offered hope. They stumbled upon ChemoThemia, a center in Istanbul, Turkey, that offered special chemotherapy for Hitchen. She was determined to do 5 10-day chemotherapy sessions. According to Cancer Research UK, chemotherapy varies from person to person. Many factors, such as the stage of cancer, the organs or place where the tumor is growing, the number of tumors, and so on, affect how chemotherapy will work.
Since Hitchen’s first session, her tumors had decreased considerably. There was likely hope with the following sessions, but 5 sessions would cost a total of £80,000 ($107,724). Hitchen would probably run out of finance before she could complete all five sessions. That’s where Andy, Hitchen’s ex-husband and Clare, his new wife, came into the picture. "Joe and Jake are my stepsons. Niki is my husband’s ex-wife and an amazing mum to Joe and Jake," Clare said. Having noticed her love for her children and her resilience, she knew she had to intervene. "Niki continues to put them first throughout all of her treatment,” she mentioned.
The couple decided to raise funds and wanted to leave no stone unturned in her chance to live. "This is not an option – the boys need their mum and she deserves the chance to watch them grow into men and have their own families,” Clare remarked. With the help of the community, she raised around £52,464 ($70,668.48), which was a massive help in affording the treatment. At the time, Hitchen remarked in gratitude, “I am completely and totally overwhelmed at the response and I'm struggling to put into words how much it means to me. This fight is the hardest battle I have ever known and it's all of you who keep me going with your words of support and encouragement.”
The woman made it through nearly a year of fighting cancer. Unfortunately, in March 2018, after medical complications, Hitchen passed away, per The Standard. Her mum, Helena, said, “She was so determined – it was one of her biggest attributes. What she went through was just immense, but she would do it all again for her two sons.” The community effort gave those few extra months, which have been etched in the hearts of her family forever.