At just 39-year-old Kelly McFadyen is fighting cancer for the third time.
Sadly the mum-of-two from Airdrie knows there's no going back this time, but this determined lady wants to make the most of every minute she has left with her family.
Now her ambition to see her son, daughter and granddaughter secure in the family home has taken a massive step forward as a fundraiser to pay off her mortgage smashed it's £20,000 target.
Kelly's close friend Andrew Cunningham came up with the plan as she worried for her family's future after she's gone.
She told the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser: "When Andrew suggested the fundraiser to pay off my mortgage, I thought he was mad. And I was a little embarrassed as well, asking to rely on people.
“But Andrew pointed out that I have worked all my days to provide and now it’s time to take a step back and continue my fight with cancer. So we decided to give it a go."
Kelly was dealt the ultimate blow in 2019 when medics discovered her squamous cell carcinoma – a very rare anal canal cancer – had returned after being given the all-clear in 2017.
She then learned she had developed terminal cancer of the pelvis, a slow-growing tumour that is eating away at the nerves in her leg.
The condition means she is in constant pain, uncomfortable and undergoing daily treatment at St Andrew’s Hospice to prolong her life.
Now thanks to the generosity of others she can now concentrate on fighting for every minute with her son Shay, daughter Erin and and granddaughter Rhea.
Kelly added: “Never, ever, in my wildest dreams did I think that we would be sitting with all of this cash towards paying off the house.
“It’s overwhelming, humbling and means the world to me and my family.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to each and every person who has donated and, of course, to Andrew for thinking of this. How lucky are we to have him in our lives?"
Over the years, single mum Kelly has consistently fought her cancer battle with a huge smile on her face and a positive attitude.
Such has been her determination to keep going that she has raised thousands of pounds for the charities that helped her most during her battle, including over £4,000 for St Andrew’s Hospice, £2,300 for Beatson Cancer Charity and £140 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
She also spends as much time as she can with her family.
Kelly, who worked for Parks Motor Company, is now undergoing her end-of-life treatment, but is determined to fight her battle to the bitter end and hopes the fundraiser will see her children and granddaughter comfortable in their family home after she has gone.
She said: “I’ve had five years of pain and fighting a battle. It really has been one thing after another, but now all I can do is smile and fight each day as it comes for my family.”
You can donate to Kelly's fundraising page here.
