Some stories break your heart — others remind you what true courage looks like.
Paula Hudgell, 58, spent years fighting for children like her adopted son Tony, who lost both legs after unimaginable abuse as a baby. She turned her pain into power — pushing through Parliament to pass Tony’s Law, raising sentences for child abusers to life in prison.
But now, this real-life hero faces a battle she never saw coming. After being misdiagnosed 14 times, Paula discovered her bowel cancer had spread to her lungs. It’s terminal. Still, she refuses to give in.
“It hurts so much knowing I won’t see Tony grow up,” she shared softly. “But I’m trying to prepare them — and keep fighting.”
Paula says her biggest regret isn’t for herself, but for the milestones she’ll miss — Tony’s wedding, his future, his laughter. Yet even now, she carries on, ensuring the Tony Hudgell Foundation keeps helping other children.
Her final message is simple, raw, and urgent:
“Check your poo. Early detection saves lives.”
Because heroes don’t always wear capes — sometimes, they’re mothers who keep fighting, even when their time is running short.
