Gemma Nuttall, a 29-year-old UK mom who delayed cancer treatment to deliver her daughter, has died.
In 2014, Nuttall, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer while four months pregnant with her baby, Penelope, People reported. Even though doctors asked her if she wanted to terminate the pregnancy to take care of her tumor, she chose to delay chemotherapy until after giving birth, according to the Gofundme account set up by her mother, Helen Sproates.
But nine months into her pregnancy, her tumor grew so big that doctors had to remove it and perform a cesarean section to deliver her child.
“They kept her awake so she could see her own beautiful but small, daughter, Penelope, arrive into the world,” wrote Sproates on the donation page, “Only to be put to sleep and have the cancer removed.”
After surgery, she remained cancer free for the next two years. But in April 2016, she was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. Nuttall’s family launched a GoFund me campaign to pay for treatment — and even actress Kate Winslet helped fundraise.
“Let’s truly do our best to keep her alive for her 3-year-old daughter Penelope, who loves and needs her Mummy so much,” the “Titanic” actress wrote on the GoFundMe page, which raised more than $440,000.
Even though scans earlier this year showed that Nuttall was cancer free, by mid-2018, cancer had moved into her spine, brain and lungs, People reported.
Sproates made the announcement of her daughter’s death on Sunday.
“Sleep tight Gemma … my world will never be the same again,” she wrote.
Winslet wrote in a statement to the Rossendale Free Press, “My heart is solely with Helen, Penelope and all of the family at this tragically sad time. Gemma was such a beacon of strength and fought this battle so incredibly hard, with grace and dignity throughout.”
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