Published: Saturday, 10th May, 2008 18:00
Charity tribute to tragic mum
By Lorraine Tinney
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TRAGIC: Amanda.
A TRAGIC Greenock mum who was dying of cancer battled to live long enough to see her only child’s 18th birthday.
Amanda Gallagher, pictured, fought the killer disease for four years after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40.
But she lost the fight six months ago at the age of 44 after the cancer spread to her spine, hip and liver.
Her devastated partner, Shuggie Magee, 57, told the Tele: “Amanda was full of fun and really brave in the way she fought the cancer. At one point, she was in hospital for three months and I never thought she would get out. She lost weight and then her legs became swollen with the steroids and she had to get all bandaged up, but it never got her down and she was always laughing.”
Amanda and Shuggie were partners for 23 years, and they lived together with James until he was five, after which James stayed with Amanda in Sutherland Road.
James said: “The memory I have of my mum is the way she looks in a photograph I keep on the mantlepiece of her laughing.”
And Amanda was determined to be there for James’s special birthday before passing away a few days later on 22 November.
Shuggie said: “The professor at the Beatson at Gartnavel Infirmary in Glasgow told me he had never met a patient like her. He told me she wouldn’t last the weekend and then he came into the ward on the Tuesday and she was sitting up in bed. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Everyone says she hung on to see James’ birthday. She would have been proud of him.I thought James would crumble, but he’s been a credit to us both.”
Care worker Amanda worked in several children’s homes and she brought a smile to everyone who met her.
Now, her sister-in-law and two nieces are taking part in tomorrow’s 10k Race for Life in Glasgow in a bid to raise as much money as they can for Ardgowan Hospice where Amanda was cared for.
Shuggie’s sister Margaret MacKenzie, 54, said: “My niece Andrea did the race last year, and I suggested she raise money for Ardgowan Hospice this year in memory of Amanda.
“Amanda was a lovely person, everybody liked her. She had the most amazing laugh — you could hear her all over the place. She was in and out of the hospice for a year and a half and the staff were really good to her in helping her come to terms with the cancer.”
James added: “I think the run is a nice way to remember my mum. We donated most of her things to the hospice.”
Shuggie, of Govan, said: “Amanda would be chuffed the girls are running for charity because she was a very giving person.”
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