A family from Glasgow are facing Christmas without their mum and partner after she died from cancer just eight days after being diagnosed.
Maggie Dorrans was just 41 when she lost her life last Thursday.
Her family are now urging others to get health concerns thoroughly checked – so no one else has to go through what they say is “unimaginable pain”.
Peter McGillvery, Maggie’s partner, told STV News: “It was just horrific, there’s not even words you can use to explain – it’s like sitting listening to a wounded animal for 48 hours screaming for help and there’s nothing you can do about it.
“I couldn’t even cuddle her at the time because of how much pain she was in and how much weight she had lost. It was just skin and bones so you were constantly hurting her if you were trying to touch her.
“You couldn’t even give her a wee cuddle to reassure her.”
STV NewsMaggie was a much loved mother, daughter, partner, sister and friend. She was always helping others, spending time with her family and socialising.
But after a short spell of feeling unwell, Maggie was diagnosed with cancer on December 6. She died just eight days later.
Peter and their children were at her side when Maggie passed away.
Six days on at their family home, he is trying to hold everything together and plan for Christmas as he comes to terms with what has happened.
“It’s kept me busy, you notice a lot now. You wouldn’t really notice things like old couples, puts a wee smile on your face but it also brings back the memory that you’re not going to have that.
“We’re never going to have that, we’re never going to grow old together.”
STV NewsPeter wants other families to be aware of the signs of cancer – so no one goes through the same pain.
The family have now set up a GoFundMe page to meet the costs of Maggie’s funeral
Something they never thought they’d have to plan for – but is now a tragic reality.
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