Thursday 16 June 2022 05:40 PM Deborah James reveals she was given just days to live last month trends now
Dame Deborah James has revealed she was given just days to live when she was released from hospital last month.
The mother-of-two, who is currently receiving palliative care at her parents' home in Woking, has been making the most of the time she has left after revealing last month that she's no longer receiving active treatment for bowel cancer.
In that time, she's been on a number of outings, including watching opera at Glyndebourne, enjoying a trip after hours to the Chelsea Flower Show and lunch at the £700-a-night Beaverbrook estate in Leatherhead, Surrey.
Yesterday, the deputy head turned bowel cancer campaigner attended Royal Ascot, which is just a 30-minute car journey from her parents' home in Woking, with family members including her brother Benjamin.
Today she took to Instagram to reveal how much she had enjoyed the special day out, describing it as a 'fab milestone to say "I ain't dead yet".'
Dame Deborah James, 40, who's receiving hospice care at her parents' home in Woking, made the short journey to Royal Ascot yesterday, a day she described today on Instagram as a 'fab milestone'
Deborah pictured with her brother Benjamin and his fiance Ashley Hall (far right) said memories were made during the special day out
Dame Deobrah James has revealed she was given just days to live when she was released from hospital to have paliative care at home last month
In a touching post on the social media platform, she wrote: 'Yesterday was really special as with a lot of effort and help I actually made it to Ascot Race Course once again.
'I honestly have to pinch myself that I’ve been well enough each day to do something like this. Another favourite I'd had in mind and a fab milestone to say "ain't dead yet!"
'Obviously like most haven’t been for a while due to covid, but so nice to be back and thank you to Ascot Race Course for making the whole experience for me and my brother just seemless and achievable for me.
'Memories made, but most importantly I got 3 wins in a row and am still bouncing off the ceiling from them still!!!'
Dame Deborah, who stopped active treatment for her illness around a month ago before moving to her parents' home for hospice care, described how stressful her situation is.
She said: 'I find myself living in limbo land, not really knowing what the future holds and for how long.
'It's a very stressful uncertain place to be because when I was discharge from hospital over a month ago I was given days, maybe a week to live. And I felt like it.
'But as we all know life doesn’t go according to plan, so I’m just greatful for what ever extra time, the powers that be have decided to grant me. So despite the unnerving tears, I look at the sunshine, smile, and think, wow, life is a funny thing isn’t it!! Better enjoy it!'
The bowel cancer campaigner, who has stopped active treatment for her own bowel cancer, went to Ascot with family members including her brother Benjamin (pictured)
The former schoolteacher, a mother of two, was also snapped with jazz singer Natalie Rushdie while at Ascot yesterday
The mother-of-two made the most of her day out, dressing in a pretty polka dot navy and white dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat, and finishing her look with a pair of gold and cream gladiator-style sandals, and a matching cream bag.
As well as posing for photos with her brother Benjamin and his fiance Ashley Hall, the campaigner was also snapped with jazz singer Natalie Rushdie.
In addition, earlier in the day, she shared a snap of some of the sundowner drinks she's been enjoying with her family at her parents' home.
She revealed she was enjoying a sip of Sex on the Beach and said she plans to 'work her way through old cocktails day by day' until her time comes.
The campaigner, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, also shared a post by In The Style urging people to snap up more of her Rebellious Hope collaboration to add another £1million to her Bowelbabe Fund, which currently stands at more than £6.7 million.
'Today's "sundowner" treat of choice! 'Sex on the Beach!",' Dame Deborah wrote, sharing a picture of her sun-soaked cocktail.
Sharing a snap of her outdoor table, Deborah revealed she was enjoying a sip of Sex on the Beach and joked she would 'work her way through old cocktails day by day' until her time comes
Dame Deborah James, 40, has joked she'll have an old cocktail every day until she's 'gone' in a bittersweet Instagram story as she is receiving palliative care at her parents' home in Woking
The campaigner, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, also shared a post by In The Style urging people to snap up more of their Rebellious Hope collaboration to add another £1million to her Bowelbabe Fund, which currently stands at £6,707,653
'Maybe I should just call this working my way through all old school cocktails day by day before I'm gone,' she added.
The picture also showed Deborah had brought out a bottle of Archers Peach Snaps.
'Yes that is Archers! And yes I did grow up as Archers and lemonade being a stable college social drink,' she added.
Also in her story, Deborah shared a post by Adam Frisby, CEO of In The Style, the brand she collaborated with to create her Rebellious Hope t-shirts.
The proceeds from the £15 to £18 t-shirts go to the Bowelbabe Fund set up by Dame Deborah to benefit Cancer Research UK.
In a passionate post, Adam said he is proud of the money sales of the t-shirt has generated so far, and encouraged people to buy more so that the charity donation could reach £1million.
'We are SO CLOSE to hitting £1million raised for Dame Deborah's charity @bowelbabe... ONE MILLION POUNDS! I am honestly so proud of that,' Adam wrote.
'For us to raise nearly ONE MILLION with Dame Deborah for charity is just so special and it makes me so god damn proud. Having the privilege of working with someone like Debs and seeing how happy this has made her in such incredibly difficult circumstances makes all the hard work so worthwhile,' he added.
'Ultimately though... we wouldn't raise anything if it wasn't for you guys supporting so I thank you so much for that!
'We have just restocked the tees and have one final design dropping this week! So we want to give this one final push to achieve over £1million pounds for charity which will be a RECORD DONATION from a fashion brand,' he said.
In addition to supporting fundraising efforts, Dame Deborah has been making the most of the good weather and of her time at home.
On Monday, the campaigner posted a video of her brother Benjamin making them a Bloody Mary cocktail out in the garden. She said: 'Sundowner vibes with the bro.
It's the pickle juice that does it for me! Feels like salad in a cocktail!
Dame Deborah James has vowed to 'live whilst dying' after
