"In July 2019, after multiple biopsies from my throat, cheek and tongue I was miss-diagnosed with a disease called TUGSY.

By October 2019, teaching, speaking, eating and swallowing became unbearable, I was losing weight rapidly and I was exhausted 24/7. Later that month I was admitted to St Richard's Hospital and I was put on a feeding tube and sent for some more biopsies, a CT scan and an MRI. On Saturday the 12th October I was diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer. I was referred to the Marsden and I was informed of what treatment I had to undergo.

On the 12th November 2019 I underwent extensive surgery. A 15-hour long operation with life changing effects; my neck was dissected and all my lymph nodes removed, my jaw was broken and my tongue was removed and replaced with what is called a flap (skin from my thigh). I also had a Traci to help me breath. It was a true mental game as I no longer knew how to speak or swallow, and couldn't do anything without help.

Later that week we found out that the tumour they had removed was the size of a mandarin and had become incredibly toxic. They were able to remove the tumour but they couldn't quite get the clear margins they were hoping for. We had later discovered that although we knew the cancer had spread to the left nodes, it had now also spread to the right nodes and was a very aggressive cancer.

Had I known I would be fighting for my life at the age of 24 I'm not sure I would change a thing. I couldn't ask for better friends and family, and although I have a lot of things I want to achieve, I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far."

Daisy xx

How you can help

Daisy really was quite a remarkable young woman; fiercely determined, brave and someone who always put others first.

Please support this amazing charity by setting up a fundraiser or just donating to this campaign.

Thank you for helping Daisy achieve this vision.