Bucket list bid in Shrewsbury mum's cancer battle
When mother-of-two Gail Morgan was diagnosed with terminal cancer, her only thought was for the family she might never see grow up.
As the devastating news sank in, Gail thought of the many things she might never get to do with her children, Jessica and Ashley.
As she prepares to undergo chemotherapy which may buy her some precious time, Gail has spent the six weeks since her diagnosis drawing up a small list of activities she wants to complete.
The 44-year-old's bucket list ranges from buying a pug to watching Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge.
And her family is rallying round to help make her dream possible.
Gail, from Massey Crescent in Shrewsbury, said: "It was confirmed six weeks ago that I have terminal cancer which came very much out the blue.
"It was a massive shock to say the least, because I only had stomach ache and they originally thought I had an abscess.
"You wouldn't know I was unwell just from looking at me and that helps in a way. I actually went to A&E because the pain got that bad but they told me in was just anxiety because of what was going on in my life at the time."
After several scans doctors broke the terrible news that not only did Gail have cancer, it had already spread throughout her body.
She has a maximum of five years to live if aggressive chemotherapy treatment manages to stop the disease in its tracks, but this may be reduced to just a year if the drugs don't work.
Gail said: "My own mum died from ovarian cancer 10 years ago and doctors told me I may be more prone. My life was going really well so to find out I may not even have 18 months to live has been awful.
"My bucket list is my way of coping because its things that I have always wanted to do.
I'm not a greedy person and I don't actually want an awful lot. I would love to go in a hot air balloon and I would like to go and watch Chelsea play because I've never been.
"I've always wanted to own a pug as well, and my daughter Jess has decided to organise this fundraiser."
Jess, 19, has thrown herself into making her mum's dreams a reality and will hold a fun day at The Steamwagon pub later this month.
Gail said: "It's her way of coping, she wants to do this to make me happy so I've just let her get on with it. These are things that I have always wanted to do, my family are my inspiration because they keep me going."
