A COURAGEOUS Greenock mum has won her fight against cancer — and is now looking forward to walking up the aisle.

Jennifer Stewart was ‘accidentally’ diagnosed with bowel cancer following a routine operation after giving birth to her daughter Poppy.

The brave 28-year-old mum of one underwent further surgery to remove the cancer and also endured chemotherapy sessions.

Today Jennifer told the Tele how she received the news that she and her family have desperately been waiting for.

She said: “I’ve been given the all clear.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know that it’s finally all over.

“I finished chemotherapy on the first of September and then the day before my dad Billy’s birthday on September 15 I was told that everything looked fine, but I had to wait for the results of a scan.

“So a day later I was given the final all clear. It was a huge relief.

“I could see the weight lift off everyone’s shoulders as it had been such a nervous and anxious time.”

Jennifer, who says she owes her life to her baby daughter Poppy after being taken in for surgery after the birth, said the ‘icing on the cake’ was when her partner Andrew Shaw proposed to her.

She said: “Andrew got down on one knee the night after the charity event I held recently to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“He said he was planning to propose at the charity night but he didn’t want to take the attention away from the charity.

“He took me off guard when he got down on one knee in the living room.

“He knows that I love stars so he turned off all the lights and projected stars on the ceiling while Poppy slept on the coach — it was very romantic.

“It’s the icing on the cake after being given the all clear.

“I’ve got so much to look forward to.”

Jennifer, of Wellington Street, is also celebrating after raising £1,760 for Macmillan Cancer Support from the charity night she held at the St Laurence’s Social Club in Greenock.

She said: “I started organising the charity night while I was halfway through my chemotherapy.

“It kept me going and gave me something to focus on.

“While I was getting my chemotherapy I would sit and organise things on my phone rather than think about what was happening.

“It kept my mind off it.”

Jennifer says that the reason she donated the money to the charity was due to the incredible support she received from Jacqueline Coyle, the Macmillan Cancer Support welfare rights officer who works in partnership with Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership.

She said: “Jacqueline was a godsend for me.

“I didn’t know what to do financially while I was going through chemotherapy but she filled out all the forms and we got a cheque the week later.

“It was a great support for us.”

Jacqueline says Jennifer is an inspiration.

She said: “It’s wonderful that Jennifer took the time to think about other people in the same situation as her while she had to deal with a cancer diagnosis herself while looking after a young baby.”

Cara Inglis, who is the fundraising manager for Inverclyde’s Macmillan Cancer Support, is also in awe of Jennifer’s exploits.

She said: “Without people like Jennifer we couldn’t function.

“We are extremely grateful to her.

“The money she raised will fund 65 Macmillan nursing hours, which equates to a week and a half.”

Jennifer is keen to thank everyone who came along to the charity night.
She said: “About 80 people came, which was brilliant.

“I would like to especially thank the Knight’s Entertainment DJ, ‘Sew 4 U’, Louise Thompson and Jacqueline Coombes.

“I also want to thank everyone for donating raffle prizes and Heather Dillon who did a sponsored 5k run to help us raise funds.”

Jennifer, who is looking forward to returning to work at Wellington Children’s Centre next week, also wanted to thank her mum Janet, dad Billy and sister Lorna for all their support.