Legacy Matters

Mother with cancer

The mother of three didn't know that she had bowel cancer probably for years.  Not until she was four months pregnant with her fourth child did she learn that she had cancer, it had spread to her liver and doctors gave her little hope for recovery.

She refused to terminate her pregnancy and delayed her chemotherapy to give her baby the best chance of life.

Mom makes ultimate sacrifice for her new baby

She told her husband: "If I am going to die, my baby is going to live."

Mrs Allard, of St Olaves, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, spent just two months with her son before losing her fight for life eight days ago.

Her husband Martyn, an oil field technician, yesterday paid tribute to her as the "best wife and mum in the world".

"Lorraine was so brave. I can't begin to describe how brave she was," 34-year-old Mr Allard said.

"She knew all too well she didn't have long to live. So she put little Liam's life before her own."

Immediately after Liam was born, she began chemotherapy but to no avail.    Her husband was with her when she died.
On the day Lorraine died, she hadn't eaten for two weeks and couldn't drink.

"I laid beside her and she was gripping my hand quite tight.

"We were like that for about half an hour. I could feel against my chest that her heart was slowing down. She just slipped away after that. It was very peaceful.

"When Liam is old enough, I won't tell him that Lorraine gave her life for him, but I will say she made sure he had a good chance of life.

"She told me she didn't want him to feel bad about it."

A remarkable woman.