A single Fife mum has tragically passed away one week after she was due to start chemotherapy.
Vikki Robbins died from lung cancer on Monday (30 November) just two months after she was given the shock diagnosis by doctors, reports the Daily Record.
She had been due to start her chemotherapy on November 23 but became too ill to receive the treatment and passed away just days after being admitted to hospital.
Her four children, twins Alana and Rebecca Mason, 17, their sister Emma Tasker, 13, and brother Robbie Tasker, 10, are now facing their first Christmas without the "best mum ever".
The 38-year-old had been unwell since the beginning of the year but it wasn't until this turned into a stabbing back pain that a tumour was found on her lung.
Her four children are now living with their grandmother, Liz Robbins, who is being helped by Vikki’s devastated sister Caroline Robbins, 40.
Caroline said: "She was only diagnosed two months ago, we thought we had years not months.
“She was supposed to start chemo last week but her condition had just deteriorated so fast.
“She had been ill since the start of the year but put it down to aches and pains.
“She eventually went to hospital because of a really bad back pain which turned out to be a large tumour on her lung.
“She went into hospital on Thursday and then passed away Monday.
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“The cancer had just spread too much too fast.”
The local community has rallied to raise over £3,600 after a family friend, Catherine Sala-Murray, set up a fundraiser, with the hope of brining the children some joy this Christmas.
Catherine, 47, originally launched the JustGiving page to buy the children a Nintendo Switch but the family now hope to use the funds towards funeral costs and giving Vikki's four kids the best Christmas possible.
She said:“ We just want to give the kids as normal a Christmas as possible, we usually all pull together during these times.
“We are doing as well as can be expected right now, we are a good family and with each other all the time.
“I don’t know if you can begin to say how amazing Vikki was, she was really so strong."
“Everyone has just really come together at his horrendous time, It’s really awful for those poor kids.
She added: “The family were so close and she was the best mum, she was never without her kids they were her main priority.
“The children are really a testament to who she was, they are so great.
“Initially I thought I could raise enough for an Nintendo switch because the wee boy Robbie is really good pals with my nephew Joe and so I knew he had wanted one.
“When I woke up and realised the page had raised thousands of pounds I couldn't believe it.
“I’m giving it to them to do with how they see fit so on the funeral, or Christmas, or whatever they need right now."
You can donate to help the family here.
