Laura Dawson, 44, believed her bloating and fatigue were signs of perimenopause. But after a night of unbearable pain, she was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer. Emergency surgery revealed the truth, and though initial treatment gave hope, the cancer returned and spread.

Her husband Ben shared that Laura chose to stop chemotherapy when it worsened her condition. She spent her final weeks surrounded by loved ones, cared for at home and later at St Christopher’s Hospice, where she passed away peacefully on June 29. “Some of the happiest days of my life have been in the last few weeks,” Laura once said. “Knowing I was dying made me live more fully.”

Laura spent her remaining time creating lasting memories—writing letters and gifting her sons keepsake watches for future milestones. “She died knowing she is loved,” Ben said. “That’s a blessing.”

He praised the care she received and said Laura wanted to help others face death with peace. “She always saw beauty in small things. She was just a really, really nice person.”