Inspirational Washington mum documents heartbreaking reality of terminal cancer

Five months ago, Stacey Pentland’s world came crashing down when doctors diagnosed her with terminal cancer, leaving her terrified at the prospect of her four children growing up without their mum.

In a matter of days, Stacey went from being a fit, happy and seemingly healthy mum-of-four to being told she had terminal cancer after suffering a sudden shooting pain in her shoulder.

The 36-year-old has been documenting her journey on social media, and has more than 30,000 followers on platform TikTok (@stacey352), as she shows the brutal and devastating reality of living with incurable cancer – but also how it has changed her outlook on life and taught her to find beauty and happiness wherever she looks.

The mum, who grew up in Washington, struggles through gruelling chemotherapy but longs for the ‘couple of days of normality’ with her family each round of treatment gives her.

For Stacey, the days where she’s strong enough to clean, cook for her children and even put her eyelashes on are a reminder of what she’s fighting for.

But despite the pain and even feeling, at times, like she’s close to giving up, Stacey remains positive and is hoping to take her four children on their first family holiday abroad to Turkey.

“It’s the one wish my kids have,” said Stacey, who is mum to Chloe, 19, Sophie, 18, Geordie, 14, and Anthony (AJ) 11.

“They really want me to take them abroad as it’s something we have never done.

"We were suppose to go this year but then Covid hit. I honestly hope I can get them abroad before my time is up.”

Doctors told Stacey, who now lives in Walker, Newcastle, she had 36 months to live when she was diagnosed in May after cancer developed in her rectum and spread to her bowel, stomach, lungs and lymph nodes.

She now has tumours on her spine.

And although she is so grateful for the treatment, which gives her her precious, ‘normal’ days with her children and fiance Fahd AlHooti,the chemotherapy rounds causes excruciating side effects.

The mum, who has raised hundreds of pounds to support Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, has spoken of her heartbreak, anger and fear of leaving her ‘beautiful’ children behind – every parent’s worst fear.

In one of her daily posts, Stacey said: "I have the most amazing children and family. I’m just so sad and in so much pain. It hurts so much.

don’t want to die so I have to fight for as long as I can but I also don't want to live in so much pain either.

"It’s all so hard. If I didn’t have my babies I would have given up the fight because this is brutal – it’s no life for anyone.”

Stacey has been overwhelmed by the support she’s received from loved ones and strangers who are raising funds.

Dawn Bambrough has organised raffles and set up a fundraiser while Julie Glover is braving the shave – with the funds going towards covering the cost of Stacey’s £1,700 travel insurance.

Donate to Dawn’s here and Julie’s here.

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