A mum-of-two died just weeks into lockdown after a bump to the head uncovered a huge tumour on her brain.
Jenny Hodgson left behind two teenage daughters when she tragically died who have said they have been left heartbroken and "empty inside".
The full-time carer, from Liverpool, spent her final days at home with 23-year-old Lilly and 19-year-old Olivia and the girls say she never showed any weakness or let on to them that she was scared of what was going to happen.
Lilly said: “Mum never showed any weakness or how scared she must have been though.
"She told us not to worry and that everything would be OK no matter what.
"Our mum was invincible – a Wonder Woman. Even after five hours of brain surgery, she woke up in great spirits and asked us if we were OK.
"She was one of a kind – she always put everyone else’s feelings first even though she must have been hurting so much.”
In 2015, Jenny started having severe fatigue which made it difficult for her to continue working and looking after her family.
In November, she banged her head on the car door and ran into the house to see that the right side of her face had dropped.
She was also losing feeling down the right side of her body so she was rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke.
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However, a CT scan revealed a mass on her brain and a further MRI and biopsy confirmed the worst - Jenny was diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma.
Jenny had surgery at the Walton Neurological Centre however due to the tumour’s location it could not be completely removed as it could have caused paralysis or communication problems.
She also had radiotherapy.
After embracing a new, healthier lifestyle, a routine scan revealed that the tumour had shrunk.
The family had a special Christmas together last year – unaware that sadly, it would be their last as a team of three.
Lilly said: “Our mum made the most of everything.
"She loved life even more, she tried her best to be happy. Our gorgeous mum had beaten this. It was the three of us against the world.”
However, at the end of March this year Jenny began to get very tired again.
The tell-tale signs that they had witnessed in 2015 were creeping back. Then one night, Jenny said that she needed to go to hospital.
Lilly added: “For her to say that we knew that something was really wrong. She had always previously said that she was fine, that she just needed to build her strength back up – she didn’t want us to worry at all.”
A MRI scan revealed that the tumour had grown back quite a lot. Jenny was prescribed steroids and an appointment was scheduled to discuss the next steps, although surgery was still not an option due to the tumour’s location.
It was during this time when lockdown was imposed. Lilly took time off work to look after her mum and help her.
Once again, Jenny lost the feeling down the right hand side of her body and her face dropped so she was rushed to a different hospital.
A scan revealed that the tumour was rapidly growing and had become Grade 4 malignant from Grade 2 benign. Jenny was admitted to hospital and, heartbreakingly, given just weeks to live.
Lilly said: “Our hearts were broken all over again. Our poor mum had done everything she could to keep the tumour away – to keep it at rest, as she would say. We couldn’t visit her because of Covid-19 when all we wanted was to hug her and be close to her.
“Even worse was that mum was given the news of her terrible prognosis when she was on her own, also because of the pandemic.
"She had to take in the news that she was actively dying when she was alone.”
On June 3, Jenny sadly died at home.
Lilly added: “Our beautiful mum fell asleep forever leaving us heartbroken and empty inside. We know that she is now out of pain and free from the tumour but we are forever without a mother because of it.
"Sleep tight mamma, your baby girls love you always and forever.”
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Lilly and Olivia are now fundraising for the Charity and running events locally when possible during the pandemic.
Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “Lilly and Olivia’s experience is truly tragic. For their mum to go through treatment and then for the tumour to come back so aggressively is a brutal ordeal and an emotional rollercoaster which no one should have to face.
“This is exactly why The Brain Tumour Charity is working so hard to find a cure for this terrible disease which robs people of their lives so quickly and recklessly.
"Our thoughts and best possible wishes are with the two girls and we thank them for all they are doing to support the cause.”
For more information visit: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/
