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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Deborah James says 'making memories are hard when you're dying' in heartbreaking post

Dame Deborah James shared a heartbreaking post as she described how hard she was finding it to "make memories when you're dying", as she is spending few hours awake "between sleeping and side effects".

The podcast host, 40, known as Bowel Babe online, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and is now at her parents' home in Woking to spend her final days surrounded by her family.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Dame Deborah told fans about how she broke down in tears when her family surprised her with a "girly sleepover" with her daughter Eloise, 12, where they watched Cinderella.

She wrote: "Making memories can be hard while you are dying! Oh the pressure!!. I’m now only getting some very grabbed hours between the sleeping and side effects, but this girly sleepover managed to put such a smile to my face having spent most of yesterday in tears!"

Dame Deborah James shared a heartbreaking post on Instagram on Tuesday (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)
The podcast host, 40, was surprised by a girly sleepover (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)

Dame Deborah said is getting less able to leave the house, her bed "or do anything" and was feeling "pretty down" by her declining health before she was surprised by the girls' night in.

She said her sister suggested a party sleepover with Woking based company Teepee Vibe Tribe coming to set up a slumper party complete with matching silk pyjamas at only a few hours notice.

"I was feeling awful after a bad day, so didn’t watch the set up of anything," she wrote.

"Actually I just cried over my leaking drains next door! But with the help of my sister and bro, managed to calm down and then they wheeled me into the room last night and yes I cried over the fairy lights! Good tears! It was just perfect!

Dame Deborah said she was spending few hours awake (pictured with sister and brother) (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)
Deborah was overwhelmed to be able to watch Cinderella with her daughter (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)

"I went from staying in my wheelchair to ending up everyone helping to get me into an actually Tee pee to watch Cinderella with the gang and sit their like a 5-year-old with a huge Cheshire Cat smile on my face next to my daughter and sister!

"We booked the experience as regular customer but they refused payment so have donated it to @bowelbabefund instead. But I wanted to give a big shout out to @teepeevibetribe because they were local, just so good and made something that meant a a lot to me just so effortless."

Deborah concluded: "Today I sleep! But with another memory and a smile".

Deborah said she is spending less time out of the house (pictured with husband) (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)
The podcast host has been an inspiration to many as she continues to document her bowel cancer battle (Instagram/ @bowelbabe)

The podcast host has raised a staggering £6.5million for her bowel cancer fundraiser, three weeks after announcing she was receiving end-of-life care.

Dame Deborah launched the fundraiser with an initial target of £250,000, but has surpassed her goal 26 times over after inspiring the nation.

Despite her declining health, Deborah has been an inspiration to many as she has launched her In The Style collection, been made a Dame and will be releasing a book.

Dame Deborah and her husband Sebastian Bowen have two children, Hugo, 14, and Eloise.

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