Martha Weatherall
Benny And Marvin Brave The Shave
Fundraising for Lady Garden Foundation
Story
On 27 July my father and I will be wet shaving our heads to raise money for The Lady Garden Foundation. An incredible charity that not only raises awareness for gynaecological cancers but also raises funds for the Royal Marsden hospital where many of these cancer patients are treated.
We are shaving our heads for one person in particular - a complete legend, queen and someone who we call family; Emily Plane.
Any donation would be extremely appreciated as a small donation could make a huge difference for a future diagnosis.
We will be live streaming the double shave at 18:00 BST 27/07/21 on Martha’s Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/martha_weatherall/
Below a brief summary of what Emily has been through since 2019.
After suffering 9 months of stomach pains and IBS diagnosis Emily admitted herself to A&E, following various scans and overnight stays they decided to operate on a (possibly benign) tumour in her pelvis. After a successful but gruelling 9-hour surgery, her team at the Marsden removed a tumour the size of a grapefruit but also took out much of her bowel, womb and ovaries with it. The biopsy revealed it was Grade 3 Serous Low Grade Ovarian Cancer, which would then need chemotherapy once she was strong enough. Post operation, Emily not only had to cope with the enormous physical pain but also the emotional realisation she wouldn't be able to have children - even more heart-breaking for a woman who constantly had a list of baby names in the back of her diary. Despite the hardship Emily keep looking forward and was busy preparing for the onslaught of 6 brutal rounds of chemotherapy.
Emily looked fabulous as ever in her glossy wigs and smart cashmere tracksuits but these were a small distraction for the nausea and shittyness of chemo. 6 months post-op she got the all clear and there was an almighty celebration, combining her 24th birthday and tumour free scans - not the usual combo for Lost & Co. Battersea.. 12 months of cancer-free living followed, and Em was living it to the full. Drinking sherry, eating sausage rolls and dancing the night away. Routine scans were always a source of concern and anxiety but she powered through, changing jobs, moving house and going on hols.
In July 2020 scans showed some possible tumour growth around the kidneys and Em was given a new preventative drug. Unfortunately, by December the tumours had grown significantly and what we passed off as a hangover was actually kidney failure. Christmas 2020 was not a happy affair, a week in hospital as emergency nephrostomies were fitted, broken out for a turkey in deserted London on Christmas day, and then back in for boxing day. Covid-19 has made hospital an even lonelier place as visitors are limited if at all permitted and Em has spent her fair share of time as an inpatient in the last 7 months. Although the nephrostomies are doing the vital job of draining the kidneys they pose a lot of infection risks and Emily has been hospitalised 4 times since Christmas including two close shaves with sepsis and back to back antibiotics for 7 months.
The drug she was prescribed in January has stopped working and she is now preparing to partake in a clinical trial which will mean regular hospital visits (more regular than her average 3 times a week at present) and close monitoring. It is a tricky chicken and egg situation as she needs drugs to shrink the tumours so the nephrostomies can be removed, but the nephrostomies cause infections which delay the drug taking.
Emily has been incredibly brave and positive throughout, but it is heart-breaking for a 26 year old woman to be fighting cancer. The Lady Garden Foundation raise all important funds and awareness for often misdiagnosed gynae cancers. Ovarian is the 5th most common cancer in woman in the UK but the symptoms are vague and hard to diagnose early which means treatment is usually very invasive and prognosis not hugely optimistic.
Below is an article written in Emily’s words - Please have a read!
https://www.ladygardenfoundation.com/journal/worrier-to-warrior-tyk5k
Peace and Love
❤️