March letter writer's tribute to brave Upwell mum Natalie Blandford
My heart broke after reading Natalie Blandford’s story on the front of the Fenland Citizen last week.
But it was pieced back together, patched up with sticky-tape, and then, able to beat again after reading of the generosity of her friends, her family, her well-wishers, and anonymous donors that responded to a plea for help via a GoFundMe page, to help Natalie tick off, what must go down as one of the most humble bucket lists anyone has ever dreamed of.
Within a few days, the target of £3,000 was smashed by over a thousand pounds, and now she can, hopefully, watch West Ham at their stadium, in a protective box.
She can also fulfill her dreams, and go to Banham Zoo, visit Cadbury’s World, and take a boat trip down the river through Upwell, her home.
What humble requests from a young lady that, not only, engendered love and wishes from those that know her, but also, many that don’t, but felt compelled to help, by even just a little bit!
It is testament, not only, to the spirit of human love and kindness, but also, to the indomitability of the braveness of the spirit of those that are faced with the biggest question some will face in their own lives... Am I going to die?
After what started as a simple toothache at the start of 2021, and an inability to get a dental appointment for nearly six months – have to try and stay on one track, this letter is not about the appalling state of health-care in England today, unless you can afford to go private – then the dentist, somehow missed the tumour in her jaw, whilst extracting four of her teeth and taking samples, but tests showed she had cancer in her upper mouth, sinus, eye and nose.
Devastatingly, Natalie was told she was Stage 4, and that is the very worst news for anyone so young.
I have donated. If you want to add a few pounds, shillings or pence, just Google, GoFundMe: Help Natalie’s Dreams Come True.
However big or small the donation, every little helps, and it all mounts up.
Maybe, once we add a little more to the coffers, a long awaited dream will resurface in Natalie’s psyche, and she will decide to whale watch, see The Northern Lights, or cruise, maybe travel and see Route 66, or Machi Pichu, but whatever it is, it would be nice if she could do something outrageously insane for someone so humble!
Good luck in your fight, Natalie. You seem so brave, you seem so loved, and that means you have as fighting a chance as anyone else.
I just hope I’m as brave as you, if I’m ever in the same position.
Ashley Smith
March