Heather James has written a heartfelt tribute to her daughter Deborah, who died from bowel cancer two years ago.
The mother of two passed away at the age of 40 in June 2022 after a five-year battle with the disease, and used her diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease and set up the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, which has raised more than £12 million.
The activist’s parents are remembering their daughter today “on the beautiful Dorset coast at Sandbanks”, where Heather, 66, and Deborah visited her shortly before her death.
taking her InstagramHeather also reflected on the ‘incredible legacy’ her daughter left behind as she shared a carousel of photos featuring her.
One image showed a young Deborah smiling as she leaned over a sofa and looked into the distance.
Heather James has written a heartfelt tribute to her daughter Deborah, who lost her life to bowel cancer two years ago.
Another photo showed Heather and Deborah together, sitting in front of the beach, wearing colorful outfits.
“Deborah died two years ago today and left a huge hole in our hearts,” he wrote.
‘I don’t think it’s getting any easier to lose a loved one; in fact, the more time passes, the more I feel the need to speak to Deborah and tell her what a huge impact she’s having on people’s lives and how much I miss her.
“Personally, the last year has been challenging, but with the support of my family and all of you, I am learning to cope while always remembering Deborah’s advice: keep going, mom, and live life; you only get one chance “.
Heather promised the late Deborah that she is ‘loved and missed and will always be in our hearts and lives forever.’
“The incredible legacy that Deborah left and worked tirelessly to build makes the family proud and the Bowelbabe fund has raised over £16 million, with £12 million already committed to nine pioneering projects in line with her wishes to support cutting-edge research , as well as awareness and early diagnosis,” he wrote.
“A huge thank you to those who have supported the fund. By working with CRUK, we will continue to grow and spread awareness as Deborah would have wanted.”
Earlier this month, Heather also revealed she “dreads” the second anniversary of the bowel cancer campaigner’s death as she and husband Alistair, 68, reflected on their final weeks on Loose Women.
Another post showed Heather and Deborah together, sitting on the beach, wearing colorful outfits.
Heather promised the late Deborah that “we love her and miss her and she will always be in our hearts and lives forever.”
To celebrate their daughter’s legacy, Heather, 66, and Alistair James, 68, reflected on their daughter’s final weeks on Loose Women this month.
Heather spoke about how difficult Deborah’s anniversaries are becoming and said she is getting flashbacks of all the last moments they shared in the last seven weeks leading up to her passing.
Heather spoke about how difficult Deborah’s anniversaries are becoming and said she is remembering all the last moments they shared in the last seven weeks leading up to her passing.
She said: “Anniversaries are difficult, this one scared me a lot. It would have been Friday next week when she would have died and the seven weeks before, since she came home, we had some wonderful times, but I also have memories of the last time we did this and the last time we did that.”
Alistair added: “He really enjoyed this time of year. He loved playing tennis, going to Ascot, he loved dressing up, all of these dates occur before the period of his death.
They recalled that it took them four hours to prepare her for her final visit to Ascot in 2022 and said she was “determined” to go but was in “a lot of pain.”
Heather said: ‘Two nights before she had ordered new shoes online but as her feet were swollen she ordered three sizes too big, of course they came but they weren’t as long as they were wide.
“She said, ‘I look ridiculous, but I love them, and I know what you’re going to say, I’m not going to be here to wear them,’ but her brother went back to London and got the next size down and wore them, he loved those shoes.
‘She carried them in her wheelchair, but of course she also packed the matching bag.’
Heather wore her daughter’s earrings on the show because Deborah also told her that she should “make a statement” with her jewelry.
Dame Deborah James attended Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15 (pictured during the event)
She said: “So, I have her big earrings, but Eloise (Deborah’s daughter) will eventually have them all.”
Speaking about Deborah’s legacy, Alistar said her daughter’s ‘big smile’ broke barriers and conveyed the message of knowing your own body.
He added: “She was an ordinary person, but she was a teacher and, like many great teachers, she could speak and communicate; she used that ability.”
Heather added: ‘And the awareness, her legacy was awareness and if we can keep that going, I think that’s what Deborah is telling me and us as a family to move forward.
“I think Deborah was given to us and she served her time on Earth and accomplished what she was meant to, so I accept that, but I also think she loved life so much that we have to honor her and love life too.”