Tributes to '˜fantastically brave and courageous' Mansfield mum who passed away after rare cancer battle

Liz Sheppard, 37, passed away at her parents’ home in January after being diagnosed with small cell stomach cancer in November 2015.

She intially underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but in August 2016 was given the devastating news that a second tumour had grown in her stomach.

Liz was given just months to live but, launching a determined campaign to prolong her life, she went on to raise tens of thousands of pounds for immunotherapy treatment.

This allowed Liz to spend “the best Christmas” with her family and friends, but six months into immunotheraphy Liz was told the cancer had spread to her breast.

In September 2017 Liz started deteriorate- and she passed away on January 7. She had defied the odds to survive more than two years after her diagnosis.

A mum-of-three and clinical typist at Kings Mill Hospital, Liz was described as a “social butterfly” who “enjoyed her short life immensely with humour and zest”.

Her parents Keith and Karen Hardy said: “Liz was our only child, and she left a massive hole in our lives.

“She was the most beautiful, chatty, bubbly and happy person you could meet.

“But she was also incredibly determined and stubborn, and I think that fighting spirit allowed her to live a lot longer than we anticipated.”

The couple live opposite Liz’s husband, Damien, and their grandchildren Georgia, 16, Grace, 10, and Olivia, five.

“We see them every day,” said Karen. “And all we see is Liz. They were absolutely the centre of her world.”

Karen also praised her daughter for raising awareness of rare cancers during her fundraising drive, which reached people all over the world.

“Small cell stomach cancer is incredibly rare and the medical world learned a lot from Liz during her treatment,” said Karen.

“We heard about other cancer patients who hadn’t heard of immunotherapy, which isn’t available on the NHS, until they’d been made aware of Liz’s story.

“And that was Liz all over. She was always putting herself before others and was the kind of person who’d be there for you, night or day, if you needed her.

“I suppose her message to the world would be- if you’re diagnosed with a rare disease, don’t just accept that first diagnosis.

“Look into your options, and above all always keep fighting, like she did.”