THE heartbroken family of a woman whose “smile could light up any room” have paid tribute to her after she died following a courageous battle with a brain tumour.
Gran-of-seven, Karen Rigby, from Carr Mill, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2015.
However, in December 2020 she had another operation after it returned.
In January 2021 this one was discovered to be a Stage four glioblastoma unmethylated.
Glioblastomas are grade 4 brain tumours. They’re fast-growing, diffuse – meaning they have threadlike tendrils that extend into other parts of the brain, are likely to spread within the brain and may come back even if intensively treated.
The mum-of-two, who worked at Fairfield Hospital, underwent all available rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She also sought out alternative treatments and transformed her lifestyle in order to try and beat the odds.
However, despite a courageous battle she died on Sunday November 6, holding hands with her devoted husband of 39 years Kevin, their beloved children Alex and Lorraine and their partners Debbie and Craig.
Paying tribute to his wife, Kevin, 65, said: “Karen was the most positive and upbeat person. From the moment I met her on holiday when she was 16 her smile has always lit up any room she was in.
“Others would have got that diagnosis and accepted it, we didn’t and we cherished every day.
“If anyone got sad about her situation she’d say ‘I’m still here’ and people treated her the same.
“Everyone who met her loved her. She is the love of my life, we have two children and seven grandchildren and had a great life together. I’m so proud of her.”
Her son Alex, 36, added: “Everyone says it but we couldn’t have asked for a better mum, she was so brave and positive and devoted to me and Lorraine then our kids.
“She was ill but kept us going, family was everything to her and she was and will always be everything to us.
“We spent a lot of time together anyway but the diagnosis made us appreciate everything a bit more.
“We didn’t give the tumour our fear, it didn’t deserve that, that illness kills itself by killing its host, it doesn’t deserve our respect, mum fought so hard and didn’t let it stop her.
“Her and dad’s strength give us strength which helped us be brave for our children. I’ll never forget how they dealt with this. It’s changed me for the better and my family too. I now know to never give up.”
Her daughter Lorraine, 34, said: “She was my best friend, it doesn’t seem real, and she would never give up she was so strong.
“She was a butterfly, her love led to her using inheritance to take us all to Florida, I took my then boyfriend who decided there that he wanted to marry me - we now have two children.
“Everything she did was for others, if her legacy is anything I hope it is that people don’t give up hope. The NHS know so much but not everything, get second opinions, seek alternative treatments, don’t take no for an answer.
“She was given 12 months, over two years ago. She beat the odds.
“We want to thank all of the kind messages we received and to add that we are truly honoured that she has been shortlisted for the Pride of St Helens Courage Award.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our beautiful and amazing mum.”
Karen’s funeral will take place at Greenacres in Rainford at 10am on Tuesday, December 6 followed by a wake at The Function Room.
People attending the funeral are asked to wear lilac or powder blue – Karen’s favourite colours - as she did not want people to wear black at her funeral.
Family flowers only however donations can be sent to Ahead of the Game Foundation via aheadofthegamefoundation.com
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