'She’ll live on in us' - tributes to York mum who died 18 days after cancer diagnosis
Lucy and Matthew with their kids (Image: Provided)
TRIBUTES have been paid to a York mum who lost her life less than three weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.
Lucy Timms - an 'amazing' 40-year-old mum of two died on Friday October 16, after suffering complications following her first round of chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
Her friends, Sam Risker, Helen Stanier, and Jess Rowley, are now raising money to help support Lucy’s family following their loss - calling her an ‘amazing friend’ and ‘just the loveliest human’ who ‘instantly made them feel comfortable’.
The trio said the idea to create a fundraiser was something instinctive, adding that they just wanted to ease some of the burden placed onto Lucy’s widower Matthew and their young children Joshua and Amelia.
To donate to the fundraiser go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-lucy-timms-supporting-her-family
Sam, who became close with Lucy five years ago after their children started attending pre-school together, said that she been feeling unwell for ‘quite a while’ and was undergoing tests at the doctor, with inconclusive results before her diagnosis.
She said: “It’s been such a shock. We all went to Latvia together just six months ago and she dragged us around all these churches. I’d give anything to do that again now.
“Lucy had been feeling ill for quite a while, but she only had her diagnosis the other Tuesday, and she was in by the Wednesday night.
Lucy and Matthew with their kids (Image: Provided)
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“They were quite optimistic about treatment option and they even had a backup plan, like if the chemo wasn't quite as effective, they were exploring option for stem cell treatments with her siblings.
“She did the first round of chemo, which, by all counts went well, but then unfortunately she suffered complications and we lost her last Friday.
“It was just a shocker because she was in hospital laughing and joking on the Monday.
Sam Risker, Amie Allen (Lucy’s sister), Helen Stanier, Jess Rowley and Lucy Timms in Latvia for Lucy's birthday (Image: Provided)
“A couple of weeks ago, me, Jess, and our daughters went shopping in Monks Cross for colouring books, fluffy socks, lip balms, Jaffa Cakes, and just little things she could pick up when she was bored between treatments.”
The friends say that Lucy will be sorely missed, not only by them, but by everyone who has been lucky enough to know her throughout her life – especially her little sister Amie, who was her life-long best friend, as well as her brother Ryan.
Sam said: “Lucy was just amazing – a fantastic mum, an amazing friend, a loving and loyal wife, and just a lovely human being. That’s the best way to describe her. She picked me up during my hardest times, she’s just someone who couldn’t do enough for you.
The families all together (Image: Provided)
Helen said: “I think we just became good friends really quickly – she’s just been so supportive and would do anything to help. She was just one of those friends who you feel comfortable with in every situation.
“Nothing was too much trouble – she was unflappable, an amazing mum, and she was just so reliable and thoughtful. I know Jess would say the same – it’s just the little things were all going to miss.”
Lucy and Matthew on their wedding day (Image: Provided)
Sam added: “We just wanted to help – there’s only so many stews, pies, food you can make. The last thing we wanted Matthew to worry about was money, so we just wanted to give them more time together as a family, and maybe have a bit left over for a holiday.
“We started with a target of £5,000 – just hoping we’d raise a little bit to help with imminent costs and the service, that sort of thing – but within a few hours, we had raised four grand.
“There are people who have never even met Lucy or Matthew, people donating who I know don’t have too much themselves. We’ve had an old friend of mine who’s a businessman in America give £750 and people are just sharing it everywhere.
“It really shows the good in the village and it’s not just Elvington, in Sutton on Derwent, Dunnington, and Wheldrake too - people there have liked, shared, and donated.
Matthew and Lucy’s first holiday in Northumberland in 2009 (Image: Provided)
“I think it’s really amazing that people give anything and that they’re recognising that this isn’t supposed to happen, it isn’t meant to be like this. She’ll live on in all of us.”
Matthew said he was taken aback by the response that the fundraiser had gotten – adding that he couldn’t thank the girls enough and that their support had been ‘unbelievable’ for his family.
He said: “I’m just blown away to be honest with you. All the people who have taken the time to contact me - hundreds of messages, people in the school playground, it’s just crazy. The whole village has come together for me. I’m so grateful.”