Tiverton mum fights for time with daughter after tragic diagnosis

A Tiverton mum with terminal cancer is astounded at the hugely generous response organised by friends.

Kathryn Hulland, aged 45, who has a six-year-old daughter (Grace), was first treated for breast cancer in 2020 and was devastated to learn that the cancer had returned, with no prospect of a cure.

“Earlier this year I was told I had maybe months or a few years to live, depending on how I respond to treatment. I am determined to make every minute count of whatever time I have left,” Kathryn said.

“My priority is to build as many memories with my daughter as I can and thanks to support from some wonderful charities, family and friends we have managed to pack in a lot so far in between all my treatments.”

An exhausting schedule of weekly visits to Exeter and Ottery St Mary hospitals for blood tests and chemotherapy, plus regular scans and other treatments, has been complicated by a series of brain seizures.

These resulted from an immunotherapy treatment Kathryn had alongside her first chemo; an added backlash to this is she’s currently not allowed to drive and relies on friends and family for transport.

“Unfortunately I have not been able to continue with the immunotherapy, which is devastating because, although not a cure, it has been proved to extend lives. I am determined to do everything else I can and having such wonderful friends raising funds will help with all the extra costs that terminal cancer brings,” said Kathryn.

“Everything I do every day is focused on keeping me alive and functioning for as long as I can so my daughter can spend as much time as possible with her mother.”