'Skating in heaven': Mother who kept a blog about cancer treatment so her children could remember her dies at the age of 32

A mother-of-two who kept a heartbreaking online diary of her cancer treatment for her children to remember her by has died at the age of 32.
Katie Scarbrough was diagnosed with aggressive bowel cancer last June and underwent chemotherapy to combat the deadly condition.

But in September she and husband Stuart, 31, received the devastating news that the treatment had failed - and doctors said she had just six months to live.

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Katie Scarbrough, pictured on her wedding day to husband Stuart, battled aggressive bowel cancer for nearly a year before her death this week

Katie, pictured here with Stuart and their children Sam, eight, and Sophie, four, was diagnosed with aggressive bowel cancer in June 2012

In a post titled 'Skating in Heaven', a relative wrote on her blog: 'It is with a heavy heart that I share this post to say our brave, inspiring and beautiful Katie Scarbrough lost her battle with bowel cancer in the early hours of this morning.
'Our thoughts and love go to her husband Stuart and their two children Sam and Sophie at this difficult time.'
Mrs Scarbrough, who was the British junior champion figure skater when she was 18, blogged the experience in an effort to create memories for her eight-year-old son Sam, and daughter Sophie, four.

Her blunt online diary, which she started last July as she prepared to undergo chemotherapy, documented the day-to-day of living with the disease.
Paula Young, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK, said: 'This is awfully sad news for anyone who's been following this amazing lady's story.

'Katie was a very special person and an inspiration to all who knew her.
'Our hearts go out to her family.'
In her final blogpost on April 24, Katie wrote that she and her husband had decided to finally tell their children about how ill she was.
She wrote: 'We have said all along we don't want to lie to them. We told them that mummy's medicine isn't working anymore and there isn't anything more the doctors can do for me.
'Sam looked at me and I asked him what that made him think, he said that you're going to die. I said yes. Stuart, Sam and I burst into tears. That was the hardest thing I have EVER had to do.
'Sophie was bouncing round the room. I explained to Sam that Sophie doesn't understand as she's so young. He then explained to her saying mummy's calpol medicine isn't working. She came over and said she didn't want me to die.'

The mother-of-two was delighted to see her daughter play Mary in the school nativity play

Mrs Scarbrough and her husband, Stuart, before she fell ill

'I think at this point I am in denial about what is going to happen. I really don't know how to die, does anybody?'
She ended the post by writing: 'I want to say Thank You to everyone who has read my blog, commented, and donated money. You are all amazeballs!!'
A message on her Virgin Money Giving page said: 'Our girl from Gilnahirk has left a gaping hole in thousands of hearts across the world.
'Katie was so proud and so overwhelmed by every single donation that has been given.
'She asked that Team Katie keep pushing forward with fundraising in her name, so that hopefully in the future no other families have to endure the torment and grief that the Scarbrough and Allan families are going through.'
In her first post on July 8 last year, Katie wrote: ‘So, I am 3 days away from starting chemotherapy and still it doesn't feel real, or like it is happening to me. I am writing this and it’s almost like I’m writing about another person.’
She reflected on the injustice of having the disease as well as the everyday parental concerns for her children when they become teenagers.

A member of the Scarbrough family posted the announcement of her death on her blog

On November 20 she wrote: ‘Is it weird that I get jealous of my own husband playing with the kids, as I want to do the same but don't have the energy?’

The next month, she told of her joy at watching daughter, Sophie, play Mary in the school nativity play.
She wrote: ‘When I got diagnosed with cancer back in June, one thought that had gone through my head was the fact that Sophie was starting primary school and I wanted to see her in the nativity.
‘The fact she was Mary and I got to see her was the icing on the cake for me!!’
Mrs Scarbrough also highlighted the realities of living with cancer and the struggle to stay positive.
On January 19 she wrote: ‘It's a s**t disease and I can say the novelty of having it has well and truly worn off!!

‘The worst thing is looking in the mirror and seeing what it has done to me.

‘I don't recognise me anymore, I look like a typical cancer patient, skinny, bald and anorexic looking. It's disgusting!!’
And in one emotional entry from Valentine's Day this year - titled 'Ode to my Husband' - Katie paid tribute to Stuart.

She wrote: ‘You are a great Dad and an amazing husband. I love you to the moon and back!

‘Happy Valentine's Day and I can't wait to add further to our memories!’

Mrs Scarbrough (pictured with Dancing on Ice star Samia Ghadie) said she no longer recognised herself since undergoing treatment

Mrs Scarbrough, seen here having chemotherapy, said she was unable to bring herself to tell her children how ill she was

On March 15 Katie revealed the treatment to shrink the tumour was not working.
She wrote: ‘If treatment isn't shrinking it and the surgeon won't operate, as it's too risky, my tumour is only going to get bigger, I won't be able to eat and that is my road to a slow death!

‘Cancer has taken everything away from me and I hate it!

‘I hate that it's making me bitter and emotional, I hate that it's given me no hope, I hate that it's made me weak and dependent on people and, most of all, I hate that it's going to take me away from my kids and family!’
Sam and Sophie were aware that their mother was ill but Katie and Stuart were unable to bring themselves to reveal the extent of her illness to them until last month.

In an interview before her death, Mrs Scarbrough, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, said: ‘My son doesn't read the blog. But he will be able to when he's older.

Mrs Scarbrough paid tribute to her 'amazing' husband. She wrote she was envious of the energy he had

Katie raised money for cancer charities and said she wanted something good to come out of her illness

‘Both of my children will be able to see what their mum went through and they will know how much I loved them.

‘At the moment they are too young, it's too in depth.
‘But it's not going anywhere. Stuart will make sure it is there for them.

‘I am glad I have done it. It is a memory, a keepsake for them.

‘I think about my kids having a future without their mum being around all the time.

The mother-of-two said she hoped her blog will help her children understand what she went through

‘I want to see them as adults. I don't think I will. That gives me a lump in my throat.

‘There are times when I cry uncontrollably and I think I've done something wrong but I have to find something else to focus on.

‘I need to stay as normal as possible for my kids and myself.

‘Sam asks me if I am going to die and I don't give him an answer.’

Despite having just months to live, Mrs Scarbrough continued to have blood transfusions and cancer drugs in a bid to extend her life.

She said: ‘Doing nothing is not an option.

Katie's blunt online diary documented the day-to-day of having cancer

‘I really want something positive to come out of me having cancer.

‘If I can raise money for charity or make someone go to the doctor with symptoms, that's what I want to do.

‘That's what keeps me strong.’

Katie fundraised for Cancer Research UK and Bowel Cancer UK through her blog.

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