Katie Taylor

Wayne & I met way back in the dark ages of 1983. We decided to marry in 1988.

1991 saw the birth of Christopher our son, closely followed in 1992 by our daughter Katie. 

Chris and Kate were always close, from the very start they loved and laughed, at us, at each other and at their surroundings.  Our home has always been full of friends, laughter, pets and little managed chaos. 

Life is for living - not for putting off for a rainy day.

Then in April 2006, Katie found a mole on her left leg had started irritating her.

The following day we took her to our doctor, who referred her to a dermatologist at our local hospital, a week later it was removed and a biopsy done.  The results of this are etched in my memory - the first time I heard the word "cancer" will never leave me.  However, we were assured that a simple wide excision would ensure all the removal of it, and a skin graft would cover and disguise the scar.  In the event, neither worked very well.

Three monthly checkups were followed rigorously, checks to see it had spred no further.  Katie hated the hole it had left in her left calf, but carried on with her life.  School, friends, riding her horse, boyfriends and going into our local town.  The usual things teenagers do.  Then in October 2007 she found a lump in her groin. 

Whisper, Bluebell & Gulliver

With a sense of foreboding, we went to see our doctor.