With only “days” to live, one BBC anchor who has been battling cancer for a couple years revealed a heart-rending plan for her three-year-old son, Freddie.
Rachael Bland, 40, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2016. On Monday, she took to Twitter to announce she doesn’t have much time left to live:
In the words of the legendary Frank S – I’m afraid the time has come my friends. And suddenly. I’m told I’ve only got days. It’s very surreal. Thank you so much for all the support I’ve received. Debs and lozz will continue with the #youmebigc podcast. Au revoir my friends. ?? pic.twitter.com/DhMurbqMJz
— Rachael Bland (@Rachael_Hodges) September 3, 2018
Doctors revealed to Bland in May that her cancer was incurable, according to her personal blog, where she’s been documenting her journey with cancer.
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After the heartbreaking phone call during which doctors told her that her cancer had metastasized, Bland wrote, “I scooped [Freddie] up and dashed home and then had to break [husband] Steve’s heart with the news that my cancer was now metastatic and therefore incurable.”
Thanks @eveappeal @athenalamnisos1 for our beautiful gift!! You made one little boy very excited!! ? ☁️ #cancer #letthehedgehogexplain pic.twitter.com/wCbpZUV8oS
— Rachael Bland (@Rachael_Hodges) August 24, 2018
Bland, knowing her time is very limited, has planned for little Freddie’s future, The Daily Mail reported.
The journalist, who has been with the BBC for 15 years, revealed this week she has wrapped 18 years worth of birthday gifts for her son. She has also put together a collection of handwritten notebooks, perfume, and other personal items for Freddie.
“The main thing is that, while he’s so young, I want him to remember me in some way,” she said. “I hope the book and these gifts and notes will leave an imprint of my love behind for the rest of his life. So he can be sure how very much I love him.”
Don’t miss our #youmebigc interview with Steve Wight on @BBCRadio2 between 4-5pm today. @bowelbabe @GIRLSTOLELONDON and me chat all things cancer and look at our new series of You, Me the Big C Download here:??
? https://t.co/TTw9QTTZWE
? https://t.co/s3TEtzhYhz pic.twitter.com/pHjTvUn8BW— Rachael Bland (@Rachael_Hodges) August 29, 2018
Hoping not to upset her husband too much, Bland has set up a WhatsApp account with Steve’s sister, where she sends notes on how to take care of their son after she has passed away.
“Like not cutting his hair too short until he really insists, or my wish for him to go to the very best school and university possible, so long as that’s what he wants,” she wrote earlier this year at HuffPost. “I’m also planning and wrapping birthday presents which he can open between the ages of four and 21.”
The moment of truth.
The results of this scan decide whether I stay on this clinical trial or move on to another. I really want to stay on immunotherapy.
Now for top level #scanxiety for the next week.#CTScan#Stage4Problems#ClinicalTrial#Immunotherapy#EverythingCrossed pic.twitter.com/lYnf5dAxdb
— Rachael Bland (@Rachael_Hodges) July 6, 2018
Bland is also working on a memoir for Freddie, though she admitted she’s struggled to continue working on it in recent days. The book, she explained, is a collection of “all those stories your parents tell you over the years from their point of view, mixed in with all the advice they give you.”
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“I’d only known Steve for such a short period of time before we married — I feel there’s so much he needs to know from my point of view and in my voice,” she wrote. “And I think I best get my personality down on paper.”
Please continue to pray for Bland, her husband Steve, and their young son Freddie.