As March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we're sharing teen Sadie's story with our supporters.
Of course cancer doesn't just effect the person diagnosed, but those closest to them. Sadie's mum, Julia features in a new video filmed for Teens Unite, where she shares her account of Sadie's journey and how Teens Unite has supported them as a family.
At the age of 23, Sadie was diagnosed with Stage 4, terminal Ovarian Cancer. She was travelling in Australia when she first started feeling unwell with stomach pains and constipation. After returning home, Sadie headed straight to the doctors, where she was initially misdiagnosed as having Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
When the symptoms continued, Sadie received further medical attention, where a tumour the size of a melon was found on her ovary. Doctors attempted to operate, however the tumour had attached itself to Sadie's internal organs and despite having chemotherapy, Sadie sadly lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer in March 2015.
Teens Unite supported Sadie throughout her intense journey and she told us: "Being told you have cancer gives you a feeling that you can't describe, emotions that have never felt or knew existed. It's like all bad feelings and emotions thrown into one. To see your Mum, Dad, brother and boyfriend hurting and crying so much, you're the one that is causing that to happen and there is nothing you can do about it."
Despite her terminal diagnosis, Sadie remained positive and lived her life to the full. She said: "Before cancer, I was a positive, happy, bubbly person, but I became seriously positive. I thought how dare cancer just come along and give me a short time here. I read somewhere that if you give yourself a big smile as soon as you wake up, you'll be happy for the whole day- so I do this every morning. I surround myself with people I love and people that make me happy and are positive like me."
She married her partner in 2014 and became a part of the Teens Unite family, making an abundance of new friends through our workshops and activites who really understood her emotions, thoughts and fears.
Julia, Sadie's mum has told Teens Unite: "You all gave her the confidence to live with her cancer, but most importantly she saw just how much you really care about all of the teens. Since Sadie passed away, I feel that you have been there for me too. You have held my hand and I feel proud to be part of the Teens Unite family."
With your support, we are able to reach out to more young people, like Sadie, by bringing them together so they feel supported throughout their cancer battle. If you would like to pledge your support for our work during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, you can do so here.
