THE family of a mum-of-three have been left heartbroken after she passed away while on holidays in Ireland – and have launched a fundraiser to bring her home.
Denise Matthews Cooke, 64, was battling metastatic breast cancer when she travelled to Killarney, Ireland with her youngest daughter Erin, 24, towards the end of June.
Denise’s daughters Meghann, Gabriella, Erin, her siblings Marie, Tricia, and David, and her seven-year-old grandson Ruari, Meghann’s son, all flew out to be with her[/caption]
Denise pictured with her daughter Meghann[/caption]
The family knew Denise’s disease was incurable at this point – but doctors thought she was “responding really well” to treatment and would have no issues on the trip.
However, the mum, from Bishop’s Stortford in Herts, fell ill while in Ireland and was admitted to hospital.
She sadly died less than two weeks later, at the age of 64.
Her devastated daughter Gabriella, 26, said: “We really didn’t expect this to happen so soon.
“We knew the cancer was incurable but doctors said it was manageable with treatment which they thought she was responding really well to.
“Her oncologists were shocked when we told them what had happened.”
Denise was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, but successfully fought off the disease after six months of chemotherapy.
In 2017, she found out she had breast cancer again – but this was a new cancer rather than a reoccurring one.
She underwent further treatment and beat the illness once more.
In early 2023, however, Denise started suffering with a bad back and soon discovered that her breast cancer had returned.
Sadly though, this time, it had metastasised, and was in her bones, liver, and lungs.
Denise was told the cancer was incurable but manageable with treatment – and so underwent three different forms of chemotherapy over the next two and a half years.
This June, she spent a week in Killarney with her daughter Erin, who was working there as a dancer.
But she soon started to feel ill and was admitted to hospital on June 22.
Gabriella, an interior designer, said: “She just wasn’t herself. She was very confused. She actually started hallucinating.
“We took her to University Hospital Kerry and she was diagnosed with a lung and blood infection.
“That was on the Sunday and doctors initially thought she would be able to be discharged by the following Friday.
‘WE DIDN’T LEAVE HER SIDE’
“But on the Tuesday we got a call in the night saying she was feeling really anxious.
“Me and my sisters went in to see her and we didn’t leave her side until she passed away on Friday, July 4.”
Denise spent her last days in the palliative care ward surrounded by her loved ones.
Denise’s daughters Meghann, 29, Gabriella, 26, Erin, 24, her siblings Marie, Tricia, and David, and her seven-year-old grandson Ruari, Meghann’s son, all flew out to be with her.
After Denise died, Gabriella’s best friends launched a GoFundMe to help with medical and repatriation costs.
‘SHOWS HOW LOVED MY MUM WAS’
Gabriella said: “The three of us are all young and we don’t have the kind of money needed to pay for medical fees, repatriation, or a funeral.
“So my best friends set up a fundraiser.”
So far, the GoFundMe has already raised more than £15,000.
Gabriella said: “Within four hours it had raised over £8,000.
“We all feel so grateful and overwhelmed. We’re seeing people we’ve not spoken to since school donating.
“It just shows how loved my mum was. People have done all of this for her.”
‘SHE WAS SO STRONG’
After her most recent cancer diagnosis, Denise became unable to walk and couldn’t bear any weight.
However, she used to be very active – enjoying sports like horse-riding, skiing, and cycling.
She also took her daughters on holidays ever year – and worked as a PA at a secondary school.
Gabriella said: “She was supportive, kind, confident, outspoken, and courageous.
“Us three and Ruari we were her world. And she made it clear how proud she was of each of us.
“Even throughout her battle with cancer she was very positive. I don’t think she ever complained about it – or said ‘why me?’
“She used to say things like: ‘I’m me, I’m just living with a disease’. Or, ‘I’m fine, my legs just don’t work.’ “She was so strong.”
She’s left a mark on everyone who had the joy of knowing her”
Family friend
Tributes for Denise also poured in on social media, after the family shared the sad news.
Esme Louise Nichol, a family friend, described Denise as “one of a kind” – and said she “created so much vibrant colour and beauty”.
Staciiee Allan, the family’s next-door-neighbour, said Denise was “the most strong, courageous, crazy superwoman” she had ever known.
And Phoebe Mary Duffy, another family friend, said: “Denise was a massive personality, the kind who could command any room.
“She’s left a mark on everyone who had the joy of knowing her and I know I’m one of many who will miss her so much.
“Sending all my love to Meghann, Gabbie, Erin, and Ruari. You were her world. She was so, so proud of each of you.”
Meghann, who works at a nursery, Gabriella, and Erin brought their mum Denise home via ferry on Tuesday, July 8.
They will soon be planning her funeral.
To donate to their GoFundMe to help with costs, you can visit this page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-denises-family.
