Japanese dream of Easter Ross mother given terminal cancer diagnosis
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN Easter Ross mum whose searingly honest account of living with a terminal cancer diagnosis has touched people around the world hopes to realise the biggest dream on her bucket list before it is too late.
Caroline Helies (43) from Alness was told the aggressive breast cancer first diagnosed in 2014 had returned and spread to her bones, lungs and lymph nodes.
Last year, the mother-of-two was told it had spread to her liver and brain as well.
After pondering her greatest dream – to go to Japan with her husband Mikael and their two children Kian (14) and Caitlyn (10) – she was persuaded by friends to set up a crowd-funding page to help meet the cost of the trip while she still has time.
She said: "We have been saving as much as we can for a while to cover the expenses for this travel, which are quite high as it is on the other side of the world, but it can take a few years and I don't have enough time on my side to make it. It took a while but my friends finally convinced me to set up a fundraising page as we are not forcing anyone to donate and anyone who does can give what they want."
Some of the most modest donations have touched her most, with a teenage friend of her son amongst those chipping in to the £6000 target she is now almost a third of the way to reaching. One wrote: "Kian is one of my bestest friends and I think him and his family deserve this holiday go Japan." Another added: "Kian is my friend and I would really love for him and his family to go on this family holiday and have a wonderful time together."
Writing on the online forum Quora, on which people can ask questions and offer answers to whatever is on their mind, she said: "I haven’t asked how long I have, because I do not want to know. Stats say average 3 years, but I try not to think about it, and every day I fight to beat these odds. Yet Fight is the wrong word, because it has already been decided that I’m going to lose and nothing I can do will change this outcome.
"It took me that whole year to get to term with my diagnosis. I am not scared to die anymore, or miss out on all my dreams.But I still can’t cope with the idea of leaving my kids and husband."
Mrs Helies travelled to Japan several years ago but after her diagnosis the family had very few opportunities for holidays together and she now wants to share the experience with them.
She said: "We are all very passionate about Japan and its culture. There is something in it that is so different from our world, it has a fascinating culture and language. If there is one place I would like to go back to is Kyoto, because of all the towns in Japan it's the most traditional and the one I absolutely want to see again.
"The complete change of culture, scenery, language is bound to stay as a precious, long term memory for my family. This is really my strongest wish."
Her target amount takes account of her condition. She admitted: "Health insurance will surely be a big part of the expense so we need to take that into account for the fundraising. I always follow the advice of my oncologist of course, but I feel good at the moment."
Due to the severity of her condition, her husband has become her full-time carer.
"Especially after a seizure I had some time ago, I have been ruled out of driving so...he is my full-time chauffeur!" she explained.
So far, the campaign raised just under £2000.
She hopes they will be able to make the travel to the Far East during the October holidays this year.
Anyone wishing to support the cause can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/a-japanese-wish.
