Laura Dawson, a 44-year-old mother of two from London, endured months of bloating and fatigue, believing she was experiencing perimenopause. Tragically, her symptoms were later revealed to be stage three bowel cancer. One night, Dawson suffered unbearable abdominal pain and was rushed to A&E. Emergency surgery removed a blockage in her bowel, and while the operation was deemed successful, further tests confirmed the devastating diagnosis of cancer.
Her husband, Ben Dawson, shared that Laura underwent six months of chemotherapy. At first, the results seemed hopeful, with a clear scan in August. But by September, the cancer had returned and spread, leaving the family devastated. Despite trying additional rounds of chemotherapy, the treatments left her feeling weaker. Two months before her passing, Laura chose to stop treatment and instead focus on spending quality time with her loved ones.
St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham supported Laura during her final weeks, helping her stay at home comfortably before she moved into the hospice for round-the-clock care. Ben praised the staff for their compassion, saying their support allowed Laura to live her last days with dignity. Laura passed away peacefully on June 29, with her husband by her side. Reflecting on her journey, she spoke openly about finding peace in the face of death, encouraging others not to fear the dying process.
“Some of the happiest days of my life have been in the last few weeks,” she said. “Cancer forced me to acknowledge death, but it also made me live more fully than ever before.” Loved deeply by her family and cared for with compassion, Laura Dawson’s final message was one of acceptance, gratitude, and the reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, beauty and love can still be found.