Worthing father speaks of loss of wife to breast cancer

James Horsley from Worthing said that after successful chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a double mastectomy following a diagnosis in January 2014, his wife Sarah’s cancer returned after a holiday in Corfu five years later.

He said: "Sarah wasn’t feeling like herself at times that holiday, she was generally feeling a little bit under the weather and fatigued. We didn’t think much of it at the time and blamed the abundance of rich holiday food we all ate.

"Looking back, I am so grateful that we had that holiday, because if it was even a month later, I don’t think we would have made it."

Sarah and James

After thorough investigations, the family was told Sarah had tumours on her spine and liver and only had a few more years left to live.

James said he was always honest with his daughter, Martha, about Sarah’s condition. 

He said: "Martha was only eight years old at the time. We told her Mummy was very poorly, and her cancer couldn’t be cured, but with the help of the doctors, we could manage it with medication."

Sarah was referred to St Barnabas House, with the family planning to start receiving community care from the hospice nurses in their own home, as well as getting support from social workers to help explain to Martha what was going on.

However, Sarah’s health rapidly deteriorated in December 2019, and by February she was admitted into the hospice’s in-patient unit.

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James said: "Soon after Sarah was admitted, we all met Maria, a social worker at the hospice. We had a chat and the next day Martha felt comfortable to meet Maria on her own.

"They went through some books together and Martha had a bit more of an understanding of what was going on.

"She asked me questions all the time like ‘is Mummy coming home?’ and I was always honest with her, but it was so helpful for her to have someone else to talk to."

Sarah passed away aged 48 at the hospice on February 15 2020.

James said that Martha was not scared when the time came, and said: "She knew what was happening and felt comfort that her Mummy was going to be safe and comfortable."

Martha and James swimming in the sea for their fundraiser for the hospice

Last year, James and Martha raised £4,000 for the hospice with a series of monthly swims in the sea.

The idea for the fundraiser came from Martha, who James said had inherited her love for swimming from her mum.

He said: "I have so many memories of Sarah and Martha enjoying the beach, swimming in the sea or playing in swimming pools together.

"They both shared a love for water and being at the beach, which is why this challenge was so personal to us."

People can donate to the father-daughter duo’s fundraiser at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jamesandmarthaswimchallenge.