‘My heart is broken’: Dame Deborah James’ mother, Heather, pays devastating tribute to daughter who died at 40 of colon cancer
- Heather James, 64, posted heartbreaking tribute to daughter, Dame Deborah
- Deborah James died at age 40 after battling colon cancer
- The broadcaster’s mother wrote: ‘I love you forever’ as she paid tribute
Dame Deborah James’ mother, Heather, has said she is heartbroken after her daughter passed away at the age of 40.
Dame Deborah, who had terminal colon cancer, passed away today after announcing she was receiving palliative care last month.
Heather posted on her Instagram Stories tonight the post announcing the death of Dame Deborah with the caption: ‘My heart is broken’.
In the following story, she shared a beautiful video of her daughter dancing while wearing a white dress, captioning it, “Love you forever.”
The video captured Dame Deborah’s vibrant ‘rebellious hope’ attitude to life.
Dame Deborah and her mother Heather (pictured above with Deborah’s daughter Eloise) have always been incredibly close
Heather James, 64, said her heart was broken after her daughter, Dame Deborah James, died at age 40
Heather posted a stunning video of her daughter dancing in happier times that captured her ‘rebellious hopes’
The brave broadcaster, who hosted the podcast You Me and The Big C, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer at the age of 35.
Since her diagnosis, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the symptoms of colon cancer — along with her mother Heather, 64.
Heather was by her daughter’s side through numerous hospital stays, participating in Deborah’s viral ‘chemo dances’, in which the pair shook a leg to help the presenter through another cycle of chemotherapy, and took care of her grandchildren ‘in a pinch. ‘hat’.
She also shared updates on her daughter’s condition via her Instagram page @bowelgran, when Deborah was too ill to do so.
The announcer and mother of two never shied away from praising her mother.
Dame Deborah and her mother Heather were incredibly close, with Heather by her daughter’s side while she was in the hospital
Last year on Heather’s birthday, the ‘Bowel babe’ made a sweet Instagram post to her mom.
She wrote: ‘Thank you for all you do for all of us, especially to slowly make me healthy again, again and again and again!
“From hiding in my hospital room to make sure I get my meds, to sleeping on the couch when I’m scared, to cutting my toast into little squares so I can just nibble on it when I’m not hungry!”
After Dame Deborah announced she would be moving into a home care hospice when doctors could no longer help her, she told fans she would be spending her days at her parents’ home in Woking.
During her time with them, they hosted Prince William for afternoon tea after he stopped by to personally present Deborah her Damehood.
Deborah and her mother Heather spent a lot of time together when the broadcaster decided to get palliative care at Heather’s house
Last week, Heather posted a photo of her daughter sipping a pint of lager by a lake as they had lunch on a sunny day.
After Dame Deborah successfully campaigned to put colon cancer symptoms on toilet roll packaging, Heather posted an Instagram story to say how proud she was of her daughter.
Since launching the BowelBabe Fund last month, Dame Deborah has raised more than £7 million for cancer charities.
In a statement posted today on both Heather and Deborah’s Instagram pages, announcing the announcer’s death, the family wrote: “A few last things from Deborah…”find a life worth living.” to enjoy; Take risks; deeply grounded love; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hopes. And finally, check your poo – it could save your life.”