Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Deborah James 'forever grateful' to the medics who gave her extra time with her children

Deborah James has paid tribute to the medical professionals that ensured she got to enjoy extra precious time with her three children.

The podcast host, 40, has shared her gratitude that the team at The Royal Marsden "tried everything" throughout her battle with stage 4 bowel cancer, ensuring that she got the spend "precious" additional time with husband Sebastian Bowen and their children Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12.

Earlier this month, the BBC presenter told her fans she was receiving end-of-life care, following a five-year battle against the deadly disease.

Since Deborah shared her heartbreaking update with the world, she has since gone to raise over £6million for charity, with her Bowel Babe Fund, and was recently honoured with a Damehood - with Prince William paying her a visit to present her with the honour.

Deborah James meeting Prince William alongside her husband and their two children earlier this month (Instagram)

Reflecting on her story in a new interview, the inspiring mum-of-two has stated how her journey shouldn't be seen as one of sadness, but rather "a celebration of getting to live for five years with incurable cancer".

"I owe my five years to the team at The Royal Marsden who told me they would throw the kitchen sink at my cancer, and never gave up," Deborah has explained to The Sun.

"In my final days, I am so grateful to have the peace of knowing that we tried everything, they left no stone unturned.

Deborah is grateful she has been able to spend time with her two young children (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)

"They gave me precious more time with my husband, my children and my family, and for that we will all be forever grateful."

Deborah was initially diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer back in December 2016, at 35 years old.

After choosing to share her experiences online, the 40-year-old became known as the 'Bowel Babe', and went on to become one of three presenters on BBC Radio 5 Live's You, Me and the Big C.

On May 9, Deborah told her fans the "time has come to say goodbye" from a hospice she is currently residing in, after five years of battling the terminal illness.

"I’m under hospice at home care, & I’m spending my time surrounded by my family. Please buy me a wine to see me out and raise vital funds," the campaigner wrote within her heartbreaking social media update.

Within 24 hours of the campaigner posting online, her fundraiser hit £1million in donations - with the figure steadily rising and now on £6,577,817.

Proceeds from the sale of The Deborah James Rose will go to charity (bowelbabe/Instagram)

Last week - just days after being honoured with a Damehood - Deborah found herself honoured once again, when it was announced a rose has been named after her.

The Harkness Rose Company will soon be selling a flower named the Dame Deborah James Rose - with £2.50 from each sale going towards her Bowel Babe fund.

Deborah went on to confess she hopes her rose will perhaps feature in daughter Eloise's wedding bouquet one day in the future.

In a heartbreaking statement, Dame Deborah acknowledged the roses will flower after she has passed away (instagram.com/theharknessrosecompany)

"Roses are my favourite flowers and I hope this one will brighten the smiles for all," the brave star also wrote within a lengthy caption shared to Instagram.

"What also brings me so much joy is to know that the rose will also be incorporated into the company’s new Community Gardening Scheme which aims to get more vulnerable groups and people from underrepresented backgrounds involved in gardening."

The campaigning star visited Chelsea Flower Show earlier this week to catch a glimpse of the rose created in her honour on display.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.