Imagine living a life so fully, so vibrantly, that even in the shadow of its end, you find your happiest days. This is the profound, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Laura Dawson, a 44-year-old mom whose final chapter became a powerful testament to love, acceptance, and finding grace in the most challenging of circumstances.
For months, Laura experienced bloating and fatigue, symptoms she, like many women, simply attributed to perimenopause. She was a busy mom of two, juggling life with her husband, Ben, and their sons, Jacob (17) and Theo (15). The idea of something more sinister rarely crossed her mind.
Then, one evening, a sudden, excruciating stomach pain struck, so severe Laura “could not move.” Rushed to A&E, she underwent emergency surgery to clear an obstruction in her bowel. The operation was a success, a moment of relief, quickly shattered by the biopsy results: Stage three bowel cancer.
The Fight, The Choice, The Gift
Laura bravely endured six months of chemotherapy. Initially, there was hope. “We got one clear scan in August and it all seemed promising,” Ben, 49, recalls, his voice tinged with the memory of that fleeting optimism. “But then in September we got the news that it was back and it had spread. That was absolutely gut-wrenching.”
Faced with a stark reality, Laura made an incredibly courageous decision two months ago: she chose to discontinue treatment. The chemotherapy was making her more ill, robbing her of precious time. Instead, she chose to live more fully, dedicating every remaining moment to her family and friends.
Supported by the compassionate care of St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, Laura was able to spend her final two weeks at home, surrounded by love, in a “comfortable and dignified way.” Ben describes those days as a blessing, allowing them to truly cherish their last moments together. She then transitioned to in-hospice care, passing away peacefully on June 29th, with Ben by her side.
Finding Joy in the Face of Farewell
What makes Laura’s story so powerful is her extraordinary perspective. She openly shared how knowing she was going to die allowed her to live her final weeks as “some of the happiest days” of her life.
“As a society, we shy away from the process of dying,” Laura once reflected. “By doing that, we reinforce negative ideas around death. People think death is always going to be painful and traumatic, but it doesn’t have to be.”
Her candor is a profound gift. “Deep down we all know we are going to die. Cancer has forced me to acknowledge it. Since then I’ve lived more fully than I’ve ever done and that has been a gift.”
Ben echoes this sentiment, acknowledging the bittersweet blessing of their time. “Laura could have died on that operating table back in March. Life can be cut short unexpectedly and suddenly. But knowing Laura was going to die meant everyone had the opportunity to say what they wanted to say to her. Because I told her and so did the kids. Obviously, I’d prefer to keep her – and have her for the rest of my life. But she died knowing she is loved and that we will miss her endlessly. That is a blessing.”
A Legacy of Love and Openness
Throughout their unimaginable ordeal, Ben and Laura remained remarkably transparent with their sons, Jacob and Theo. “We’ve spoken very openly about it all the way through,” Ben shared. “We’ve always told them what the possible outcomes are – because we want to prepare them for what might happen and we want them to be able to trust what we’re saying. That’s definitely helped us throughout.”
Laura’s desire to help others cope with death and dying shines through. “I don’t think there’s been a day in this process where Laura truly let this get to her,” Ben said, speaking of her incredible resilience. “This is unfair. She’s had her life cut short by 40 or 50 years. But she was seeing the beauty in the small things – taking joy in what she could do. They say people are glass half empty or glass half full. Laura was always happy enough just to have a glass. She wanted to share that with people.”
In her final days, Laura thoughtfully crafted lasting memories for her family. She wrote heartfelt letters, curated precious keepsakes, and purchased meaningful watches for her sons, mirroring the one Ben gave her when they got engaged. “That way, on special occasions, like their weddings, they can look at it and know she’s with them and thought about that day,” Ben shared, a testament to her enduring love.
Ben’s final words paint a vivid picture of the woman he loved for 24 years. “They talk about love at first sight – and it was that. She’s been my constant companion ever since. Laura was generous to a fault – and the kind of person who is friends with someone after a minute of chatting to them. She was just a really, really nice person.”
Laura Dawson’s story reminds us that life is precious, that early symptom recognition is vital, and that even in the face of loss, there can be profound beauty, deep love, and an enduring legacy.
What aspects of Laura’s journey resonate most with you?
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