Mum-of-four raising funds for her funeral after migraine was diagnosed as terminal cancer

A mum-of-four is fundraising for her funeral after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time.

Michelle McKay of Northampton, started her second round of chemotherapy on the same day she started her first treatment – four years on.

After beating breast cancer in 2017, she lived cancer free until she turned 40 in 2021.

The former senior carer – described as a “very beautiful person” by her boss – was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and bone cancer in April this year.

‘It’s overwhelming’

Michelle, who is from Kingsley, is mum to Ellie, 16, Samuel, 14, Emily, 11, and Abbey 9 – and is unable to continue working as a carer for disabled adults due to her condition.

Michelle was diagnosed with terminal cancer after visiting her GP who was treating her for migraines.

Although she had suffered with bad headaches all her life - she also had pains in her legs.

It was only when her doctor referred her for an MRI scan when they found the cancer.

On being given her second diagnosis, Michelle said: “It was heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking - the first thing I thought about was the kids, it’s always going to be the kids.

“I’m really worried - it’s very emotional for my older two as they understand what’s going on.

“How do you try and explain to them that mummy could only have a couple of weeks or a couple of months and expect them to deal with that?”

She is hoping the vital cash from a crowdfunding page will pay lasting memories with her three daughters and son.

She said: “Anything would help, it will pay for my funeral.

“I’ve been off work for two months. I want to try and make some memories for the kids, if possible.”

So-far the GoFundMe page has already raised £3,075.

“The donations are amazing, overwhelming - it’s really emotional,” she added.

‘We look after eachother’

Heta Mehta, Michelle’s boss, set up the GoFundMe page to help and provide support for her colleague.

She said: "We are all like a family at work, we look after eachother, each other's kids – so we are doing as much as possible as a company and friends to personally and financially help her as much as we can.

"There is only so much that we can do – I thought if I was to start the GoFundMe it will help her and her four children.

"Everyone loves her a lot – all the parents at the day care centre are doing as much as they can to help.

"She’s such a bubbly person – even now when you talk to her she will laugh and try and put on a brave face but we know inside she is worried.

“The work she used to do was excellent, she’s a very beautiful person."