Kristen’s story

It was 2021 and I had just had a baby and was blissfully in my baby bubble.

My Dad had just had a health concern and checked up on it and got the all-clear, he was always vigilant about his health.

I remember he said his poo test was next, which came back negative. He was booked in for a colonoscopy quickly. Our father daughter relationship changed overnight with me caring for him.

My daughter was only nine weeks old when we found that Dad had a 3cm tumour in his colon that had metastasised all over his liver. He was put on palliative chemo straight away.

I never imagined that my first two years as a solo parent would be spent taking Dad to chemo and oncology appointments, countless blood tests, having conversations back-and-forth with his Diabetes Nurse and the dreaded anticipatory grief.

Dad accepted his fate and said that it was all part of God‘s plan. He said that at age 64 he was so blessed to not only be a grandfather but to be a great grandfather as well. He said not many people get there in their lifetime, he lived for his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.

During treatment Dad was so resilient, he only cried once in front of me. That was when he was heartbroken to see a young child of about 7 or 8 receiving radiation treatment alongside him. I think this really shows what kind of a person he was – a kind, empathetic and loving person.

During this time, I spoke to my amazing GP and raised concerns about it being passed on to me and my daughter. My doctor referred me for a colonoscopy straight away.

Obviously, life got very busy caring for Dad and a new baby, so I just never got around to book in my appointment. That was until both my parents had heart attacks within six weeks of each other (and survived) and I thought I better get checked out.

So, 11 months after referral, aged 40, I went for my colonoscopy. Here I found that I had early bowel cancer. One of my polyps was cancerous and slowly growing to Stage One.

Ultimately, my Dad saved my life. If I had waited until I was 45 for a bowel screening test, I wouldn’t have had the same outcomes.

Dad passed on 4 July 2023 aged 66, after a two-year battle. We worked hard to grant him his wish of passing at home.

We love and miss him every day.