Single mum of six is told she has weeks to live
A MUM of six who has been told she has just weeks to live today vowed to give her children the best Christmas she can.
Courageous Samantha Henson was diagnosed with cervical cancer in July and was told last week that chemotherapy would not work.
She now has just weeks to live – but is determined to make the most of her birthday at an event organised by friends from her local pub.
Samantha, a single mum who is 37 today, said she has been overwhelmed by the support from staff and regulars at the Pheasant Inn in Radford, which is holding a 70s and 80s Abba night to raise funds for her and her children.
Landlady Bridget Hyland said: "We are going to buy the children toys and make sure she has all the Christmas food she needs.
"We want to raise money so she has no worries. All we are aiming for is to make sure the kids have a mega Christmas."
Samantha said: "I am absolutely over the moon. I didn't realise how many friends I have got until something like this happened.
"It is so nice to have people like this supporting me."
Samantha said she has told all her sons – aged between 18 and seven – exactly what has been happening.
"I have told them that mummy is poorly" said Samantha, of Seaton Crescent, Aspley.
"I told them that I will be going away soon and will be like an angel in the sky.
"I have told the boys everything that's happened the whole way through. My kids have been brilliant through all this. I am so proud of them."
Samantha has been looking after her children on her own for the past seven years and first told her 18-year-old son Zak, who is now her carer, about the diagnosis and they then told the younger boys.
Zak said: "It was a shock to me, I didn't know what to do and I don't know what to expect.''
Samantha's youngest son, seven-year-old Brok, said they would be doing their best to celebrate his mum's birthday and added: "She has not seemed very well.
"She said it's months and days and if something happens to us she will say that in her dreams she will pick me up and go flying."
Samantha had radiotherapy and then one dose of chemotherapy before doctors told her treatment was not working and more chemotherapy would only make her worse. She said: "We have spoken to the doctor and he has told me that I have weeks or months left. I was in shock but I sort of knew something like this was going to happen. I was sort of ready for it.''
Samantha was told in June she had blood clots in her leg and was then diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, which had spread.
Preparations have been made for the boys to be looked after by other family members when Samantha dies.
The Pheasant pub has already raised some money for Samantha and her family through various events.
Tonight's event is taking place from 7pm at the pub in Prospect Street, Radford.
40 Comments
View all
by Tiffany Smith and Chelsea Watson, nottingham
Saturday, December 20 2008, 10:25PM
“auntie sammy ur gunna be missed loads babe , we love u so muchh hope u no tht , yu will neva b forgoten especaily by us ! u ave done so muchh for us in the past jus hope we cud du the same for u , LOVE YOU LOADSZ WITH ALL OUR HEARTS ..X Tiff and Chel ...xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Love Yuuh Loadsz Sammy .xxx”
by paula davies, nottingham
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 9:13PM
“I am Sammys cousin even though were not really close weve followed her illness from the beginning what happened to just be a simple illness has lead to this Sammy hasnt done this for personnel gain or symphathy .All she is and always been bothered about is her children who are a credit to her .To the simple minded bigot who states having six kids and staying at home .That hasnt got anything to do with the present situation she is facing .Not everyone knows peoples personnal life so shouldnt comment on it until all the facts are present . I would personnally have six kids and be at home all day with hardly any thing then have none and be at work all day what a sad and unhappy life that must be .what a money orriented world some people live in ? I have just lost my partner and father to two in a car crash and dont work so does that make me a scrounger NO it doesnt .SO to all those sad individuals out there please give a thought to Sammy and her Children it doesnt matter what time of year it is .Sammy isnt going to be here with her angels much longer xxxxxxxxx”
by gavin and claire shead and kids, aspley, nottingham
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 10:04AM
“Firstly can me and gavin just say what a total idiot any1 is if they dont see the real reason for your plight sam , Mark u r not a man just a total wolly who needs to get a life because he obviously has nobody who cares about him which shows with you makeing comments like you did!!!!!!
Secoundly to sammy , hun we are devastated by your news , gav has known you since being a teenager having his first tats at yours and later on dragging me to have my first tats at your home in aspley. Being a mum of 5 myself sam my heart goes out to you and your family at this very sad and unfair time, i would guess though hun you will always be loved for all time and more your sons are a complete credit to you, if there is anything we can do hun and i mean anything, just ask , just remember kido the next chapter has yet to begin not end xxxxxx Lastly to your sons you will never be without your mum as she will live on in all of you because of the men she has helped you to turn into and the boys she has let you be, big hugs to you all at this hard time. xxxxxxx”
by leisha, bilborough
Monday, December 01 2008, 2:58PM
“sam your are a brave and beautiful person! you have always been there for me when i need a shoulder to cry on. now its myne and everybody elses turn 2 be there for you and my 6 georgous coisins..
xxx I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY
HEART AUNTIE SAMMY xxxx”
by Dawn Woodward, Aspley
Monday, December 01 2008, 11:00AM
“FIRST OF ALL TO EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT NO SAMMY SHE IS WARM LOVING A FANTASTIC MUM FRIEND THE WHOLE PACKAGE. SHE HAS 6 BEAUTIFUL KIDS WHO LOVE HER TO BITS HAVE BEEN HER BACK BONE AND KEPT HER GOING.
SHE IS A INSPARATION AND A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND WE ALL LOVE HER. ITS TRUE THEY ANLY TAKE THE BEST!
AS FOR YOU MARK IN MAPPERLEY YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON TO HAVE YOUR HEALTH BUT ARE NOT LOVED IT SHOWS IN YOUR COMMENTS WHICH ARE RUDE AND HEART BREAKING ITS NOT ABOUT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE BUT THE CHILDREN WHO WILL LOOSE THERE MUM IN THE NOT TO FAR DISTANT FUTURE.
IF YOU WERE TO STEP BACK FOR 1 SECOND AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR HORRIC COMMENTS HAVE PORTRAYED YOU AS YOU MIGHT THINK AGAIN.
I DO HOPE YOUR LIFE IS AS BLESSED AS SAMMY WITH HER 6 CHILDREN.
ALL OUR LOVE SAMMY AND YOUR 6 ANGELS
JAY DAWN DEMI RYAN AND LEVINA XXXXXX”
by kim, leeds
Sunday, November 30 2008, 1:24PM
“hi just read some off the comments on this articale a few off them are discrasefull dont judge sammy if u dont know her love you loads sammy and boys love kim,rich,girls and bump xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”
by stephen, aspley nottingham
Sunday, November 30 2008, 12:07PM
“wot sort of scum put comments like that of mark we know sammy well and she aint no scrounger shes a excellent mother and loves her kids all the best sammy and kids stephen,fiona,kids xxxxx”
by andy, hucknall
Saturday, November 29 2008, 1:40AM
“col lovely words we love u sam and 1 great nite xxxx”
by Sharon, Bestwood
Friday, November 28 2008, 10:48PM
“Mark from Mapperley, you don't know Samantha, her family or her circumstances so please don't be so judgemental. I really hope to god (if there is one) that none of your family members find themselves in a similar situation and, if they ever do, that they're not on the receiving end of such critical comments.
Samantha and family, I don't know you either but I sincerely hope that you have longer with your family than you think you have. Best wishes to all of you.”
by Bill, Keyworth
Friday, November 28 2008, 9:16PM
“And I thought Scrooge was just a character in a story and even he reformed. Mark you should be very ashamed of yourself, talk about kicking someone when they are down. It is heartening to know that there are so many other people who will be hoping and praying for her and her family at such a traumatic time.
Before you get on your high horse Mark I have paid taxes for very very many years as well as NI contributions and do not begrudge one penny of them if they are helping this family, there but for the grace of God it can come to us all.”