North Luffenham woman with terminal cancer raises money for Loros hospice which supports people in Leicestershire and Rutland
A woman and her husband are raising awareness for the hospice supporting her through terminal cancer.
Lorraine English from North Luffenham was diagnosed with lung cancer after going for a chest X-ray related to her arthritis in 2020. She had no previous symptoms.
Less than two months later she had a third of her lung removed before going through chemotherapy but the cancer had already spread to her brain.
Since then Lorraine, who worked at Empingham Surgery dispensary, has had various treatments but doctors say the cancer is terminal.
In January 2022 Lorraine was forced with the decision to undergo a risky emergency surgery and be put in an induced coma otherwise doctors said she would die within three months.
Miraculously, and to the doctors’ surprise, Lorraine woke up before being put in the coma and was back at home within days.
But not all of the tumour could be removed.
James Scott, her husband, said: “She is one of those miracle people.”
Lorraine has been supported by Loros hospice, a charity which provides care to people in Rutland and Leicestershire.
The 49-year-old still lives at home but is visited by a support worker and often goes to the hospice in Leicester for day therapy and counselling.
Lorraine said: “It has been up and down.
“I am grateful considering I was diagnosed in 2020 and I’m still here in 2023 .
“Without the help of Loros I don’t think I would be as upbeat as I am.”
Lorraine has also been able to take her children, Sian and Lee, and young grandchildren, Lawrence, Niala and Rose to the hospice.
She feels it is important they have the understanding of where she is going and the support she gets.
Grateful for the help Loros has given to his wife of 15 years, James has thrown all of his efforts into raising money for the hospice.
The 54-year-old said: “I have to compartmentalise it.
“If I think about it everyday I would have a nervous breakdown.
“Having the woman you love die in front of you is horrendous.
“Friends and family will say ‘I don’t know how you do it’, but what else can you do.”
Next month he will hold a fundraising dinner and raffle at The Fox in North Luffenham. Tickets have already sold out.
Previously Lorraine shaved her head for Macmillan, raising £2,000 and her grandchild Lawrence did a sponsored mud run which made £1,500 for Loros.