So tragic.
A young mum died on Christmas Day after she was diagnosed with Leukaemia just four weeks previous.
The 23-year-old was told she was suffering from Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia, on November 27.
Kristen Hawksey, who had her daughter Penelope 15 months ago, noticed bruising on her legs.
She didn’t think anything of it, but after her family urged her to see a doctor, she seeked medial help.
It was then she found out she had APL.
The doctors told her that the type of cancer she had, had an 80-85 percent chance of being cured.
However, as she was undergoing chemotherapy, her immune system was weakened and she contracted a chest infection.
She was transferred to a hospital in Manchester, and her family were told that she was at risk of internal bleeding.
And sadly, on Christmas afternoon, after she suffered a bleed on her brain, her family made the decision to turn off her life support machine.
Her dad, Neil, who is urging others to get checked, said the whole family are numb by the loss.
“Kirsten was not the type of girl who would moan or complain. She wasn’t a ‘why me?’ type.
“She was a hardworking, loving, strong willed and gorgeous mum, daughter, sister and granddaughter.”
“She would never have given up fighting because of her daughter – she idolised her and completely loved her to bits.”
He added: “We have had messages from people all over the world – it has been unbelievable.
“Kirsten wanted to raise awareness and we want to make sure people, who may have been diagnosed with the type of leukaemia that Kirsten had, or are currently battling it, don’t think that what happened to Kirsten will happen to them.
“Kirsten was unlucky, what happened was not the norm and we don’t want to scare people.
“She didn’t die of leukaemia. People can fight it and survive.”
A justgiving page has been set up in honour of Kristen, where donations will go towards her daughter’s future, as well as the Teenage Cancer Trust.
