Leeanne Grassnick initially thought her exhaustion was a normal part of being a new parent. She gave birth to her son in December 2021, only to catch Covid-19 three days later. The tiredness that followed left her feeling miserable, but she wasn’t overly concerned.
The 42-year-old from South West London had also started losing weight rapidly and was frequently getting infections. However, she attributed these symptoms to the physical toll of childbirth and lack of sleep, which is common for many new mothers. She also believed the recent bout of Covid-19 could have contributed to her condition.
‘As a new mother, these are all things you experience after having a baby. It’s very scary because you don’t know if it’s just part of the process or something more serious,’ Leeanne said.
Months later, during a family holiday to Corfu in April 2022, things became impossible to ignore. Leeanne struggled to walk long distances and developed severe pain around her ribcage, which no longer felt like something she could easily dismiss as tiredness.
‘It’s our happy place, and we go there every year. But I just couldn’t enjoy it this time,’ she said. The pain became so intense that she ended up in A&E, where doctors found irregularities in her liver tests. Initially, they advised her to return several weeks later for an outpatient ultrasound, but her wife, Emma Davies, 36, insisted on earlier scans. This decision proved crucial.
Emma, who was then completing a PhD in cancer research, played a vital role in pushing for quicker medical attention. Leeanne credits her wife with saving her life.
‘She is my lifesaver because without her, I don’t think I would be here today,’ Leeanne said.
Scans revealed 22 lesions on Leeanne’s liver. In May 2022, she was diagnosed with colon cancer that had spread to her liver. Further tests confirmed she had the BRAFV600E mutation, an aggressive form of bowel cancer.
The diagnosis was a horrifying shock, especially since Leeanne had always been healthy and active. Doctors told her the cancer was incurable and gave her just a year to live.
‘I had a panic attack. I couldn’t breathe. Everything went into a daze around me. I looked at my wife, and she was pale and speechless. It was horrendous,’ she recalled.
Leeanne began chemotherapy treatment at The Royal Marsden in London on May 21, 2022, and initially underwent six rounds. Since then, she has completed over 60 rounds while continuing to live with the disease. Despite the challenges, she remains determined to fight.
Although surgery was considered multiple times, doctors were unable to remove the tumours because they hadn’t shrunk enough during treatment. Leeanne is now exploring options overseas, including treatments in Germany and the United States, in hopes of extending her life.
One treatment she has investigated is ‘Histotripsy’, a non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound waves to destroy tumour cells. While Cambridge University is researching the treatment, it is more accessible in the US, where one session can cost between $30,000 and $50,000.
Alongside the physical impact of the illness, Leeanne says the emotional toll of motherhood has been particularly difficult. Due to chemotherapy, she spent significant time in hospital while her son was cared for by a nanny.
‘Because of my chemotherapy, I wasn’t allowed to breastfeed anymore. Getting him on the bottle was so hard. I couldn’t spend any time with him—he had to be with the nanny. I was just too ill and constantly in hospital,’ she said. ‘It was a really big separation for us, and that was painful and traumatic.’
For much of her son’s first year, Leeanne was too unwell to lift him properly. She struggled with the feeling that cancer had taken away the version of motherhood she had envisioned for herself.
‘I really struggled because I felt like I wasn’t able to be the mother I wanted to be. I was in so much pain most of the time that I often couldn’t lift him,’ she said.
‘On one hand, I wanted him close to me all the time because I wanted him to know how much I loved him. But at the same time, I worried that maybe it would be better if I died now so he wouldn’t have to deal with the emotional pain. As he’s gotten older, he’s become more attached and understands the situation.’
Leeanne and Emma have since launched a JustGiving page to help cover the costs of treatment and living with cancer. The fundraiser has received support from JustGiving itself, with its president praising Leeanne’s resilience.
Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said: ‘It’s impossible to fully grasp the emotional and physical weight that this diagnosis has placed on Leeanne and her family. Yet throughout it all, Leeanne’s determination and resilience have been nothing short of extraordinary. At every stage, she has continued to defy the odds time and time again.’
