Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@bowelbabe
Topics: Celebrity
Ali Condon
Deborah James has issued a health update to her friends and fans just days after announcing that she will no longer be pursuing active care for her bowel cancer, and moving to hospice at home care.
The You, Me and the Big C host suggested to supporters that she would no longer be documenting her cancer journey through her 'Bowel Babe' Instagram page and would be spending what time she had left with her family, but Deborah took to social media on Friday to share a quick update on her health and her new damehood.
10 Downing Street announced on Thursday night (12 May) that Deborah had been awarded damehood as the Bowel Babe fundraiser that she launched just days earlier hit a staggering £3.7 million.
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Sharing the news on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated: "If ever an honour was richly deserved, this is it. Deborah has been an inspiration and her honesty, warmth and courage has been a source of strength to so many people.
"Through her tireless campaigning and by so openly sharing her experience she has not only helped in our fight against this terrible disease, she has ensured countless others with the Big C have not felt alone.
"My thoughts are with Deborah and her family. She has the country’s love and gratitude."
In an unexpected post to Instagram on Friday, Deborah confessed that the news had been rather "overwhelming".
She wrote: "I don’t even know where to start with the overwhelming tears getting in the way. I’m humbled and blown away that 5 years of talking about poo can lead to a damehood!
"I feel honoured and shocked that I even got considered. These last 4 days of your [unwavering] support launching the @bowelbabefund to benefit @cr_uk, @royalmarsden and @bowelcanceruk seem like a [whirl]wind of surreal dreaming when each day I can’t fathom the kindness and generosity. £4 Million!!!
"I can simply only give thanks for the wonderful people in the world and say the most heartfelt thank you for your unconditional support not just now but over the years."
After moving out to her parents' house to spend her remaining days with loved ones, Deborah briefly told her followers that her health had taken a turn for the worst.
The mum of two wrote: "As I’m getting more and more sleepy and finding life a little harder, I’ve had more time to think that I’ve never stopped to realise the impact that our podcasting, and talking, and campaigning has had over 5 years.
"Small chats really can save lives, small conversations can create ripples far beyond where we might see them, and seeds might grow where we’re never see their fruits. And there is something exciting and beautiful in that cycle of life.
"With this money hopefully more people will have more time with their loved ones. Who knows what plants we might grow, but when done with hope we pray that some blossom into game changers for our kids, and many more to come. Keep loving in kindness, with rebellious hope always."
Deborah's Bowel Babe Fund has now surpassed the £4 million mark, and shows no signs of slowing down.
For more information and advice on bowel cancer, visit Bowel Cancer UK.
You can donate to the Bowel Babe fund here.