A Mother’s Story No Parent Should Ever Have to Tell
On 15 June 1981, one of the greatest joys of my life arrived — my beautiful daughter, Phillippa Jane. From the moment she was placed in my arms, our bond was instant. She was a tiny 4.7lb miracle who made motherhood feel effortless. On her first night home, she slept from 6pm to 2am, and I must have checked her breathing a dozen times. By the next night she slept straight through until morning. That was Phillippa — gentle, easy, full of grace, and already showing the quiet strength that would define her life.
We spent her early years on a farm, where her love for animals — especially horses — blossomed. She grew into an accomplished horsewoman, and our weekends were spent grooming, loading trailers, and cheering her on at shows. She insisted on doing everything herself, and we loved watching her confidence shine.
Three years later she became a proud big sister to Robyn, and the bond between them was something extraordinary. They shared laughter, tears, secrets, and a loyalty that was unshakeable. Their matching tattoos read: “My childhood companion, my confidant, my forever friend — My Sister.”
Phillippa adapted effortlessly to every new city, every new school, and every new challenge. She built friendships that lasted her lifetime. She built a career she was proud of. But above all, she built a life centred around family, friends, and horses — the things she loved most.
She often said: “I regret nothing in my life. I still look back and smile — because it made me who I am today.” And her favourite saying, the one she used with everyone she loved: “Love you, mean it.”
“I regret nothing in my life. I still look back and smile — because it made me who I am today.”
How Life Can Change in a Heartbeat
On 16 August 2014, everything changed. Phillippa found a lump in her breast. What followed was a whirlwind of appointments, tests, and fear. The diagnosis: triple negative breast cancer — aggressive and fast moving.
Within days, surgery was scheduled. A double mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy. We were told the tumour was removed, lymph nodes were clear, and radiation was unnecessary. We were told chemotherapy was “preventative.” We were not told how devastating it would be.
On 29 August, she underwent surgery. By the next morning, she was sitting in the hospital coffee shop, drinking coffee, determined to get back to her life. Her strength never wavered.
She endured the “Red Devil” chemotherapy with courage. Her hair fell out — something that broke her heart — but she kept going. She rebuilt her life, regained her confidence, and even passed her motorcycle learner’s licence. She was ready to live again.
But cancer had other plans.
Dizzy spells led to scans. Scans led to the discovery of three brain tumours. Surgery followed. Radiation followed. Then more scans — revealing metastases in her liver, lungs, and a severely infected gallbladder.
Still, she fought. Still, she smiled. Still, she believed she could overcome it.
We cared for her at home, using every supportive method we could — conventional and integrative — to keep her comfortable, loved, and surrounded by peace.
Phillippa passed with dignity, courage, and love. She left us with a legacy of strength that continues to guide us.
A Message From a Biomedical Doctor and Cancer Survivor
Phillippa’s story is heartbreakingly common. Fear, urgency, and the pressure of conventional treatment often leave families overwhelmed and uninformed. Patients are rarely taught what cancer truly is, how long it develops, or how powerful the human immune system can be when supported.
There is seldom discussion about nutrition, detoxification, immune support, or emotional and spiritual healing. Yet thousands of people have recovered through integrative approaches that honour the whole person — not just the tumour.
True healing requires understanding the cause, not reacting to the fear. It requires empowerment, not panic. It requires options, not pressure.
Loss Upon Loss — And the Birth of HopePhil
Eight years after losing Phillippa, my husband John — her beloved father — was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive brain tumour. We were told he had three months with chemotherapy and radiation.
John chose a different path — one focused on quality of life. Through supportive care at Lifeshine Wellness Centre, he lived six meaningful months, doing the things he loved. His final month was difficult, but he faced it with courage. He passed on 22 October 2023.
Losing both Phillippa and John has been the greatest heartbreak of our lives. But their strength, their love, and their belief in helping others have given Robyn and me a renewed purpose.
HopePhil — A Legacy of Love, Strength, and Support
HopePhil Trust was originally born when Phillippa became ill, created by her closest friends who united to help her with the overwhelming cost of treatment. Their compassion and determination formed the foundation of what HopePhil would later become – her compassion, her courage, and her desire to help others. Today we carry her legacy forward with a single mission.
To support people who cannot afford treatment, and to ensure no family walks this journey alone.
We honour her by helping others find hope, options, and empowerment. We honour John by giving families the chance to choose quality of life.
We honour both of them by standing beside every person who reaches out to us.
HopePhil is not just an organisation — it is a promise. A promise that no one should face cancer without support, without information, or without hope.
Love you,