By Melanie Harvey
A new mum is backing Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’s summer appeal as she looks forward to a happy family life with her new daughter.
Siobhan Mawdsley, from Southport, was pregnant with her first child when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive blood cancer after concerns were raised during a routine check-up.
Following her diagnosis in 2022, Siobhan was referred to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool for treatment.
She said: “My whole concern was my pregnancy, but I felt reassured after my referral as there was a plan in place for my treatment. I felt positive because I knew I was being looked after.
“It was the most stressful time of my life but there was a sense of calm at Clatterbridge, such a special energy.”
Tragically during a routine pregnancy scan a few weeks into treatment, Siobhan and her husband Dave were given the heartbreaking news that their son wouldn’t survive due to his own health.
She said: “Our son Freddie was born sleeping in October. It was heart breaking.”
Despite her immense grief, Siobhan, who was 31 at the time, knew she had to continue treatment, and her results were very positive.
She said: “On our way home after Freddie was born, we saw rainbows the whole way. It felt like he was sending me a message to keep going.
“When we arrived home there was a letter from Clatterbridge which said treatment was working.”
Siobhan, 34, who is a civil servant, decided to cultivate flowers in the garden of their Southport home in memory of Freddie.
She found spending time in the garden restorative, taking her mind away from the trauma of losing Freddie and the stress of her cancer treatment.
When she was told she was in remission from cancer the couple had a small gathering with family and friends.
Siobhan said: “We toasted Freddie, and I thanked him for saving my life. If I hadn’t been pregnant, I might not have found out I had cancer.”
She carried on growing flowers and a friend drew a picture which she turned into a sticker to adorn bouquets of flowers for friends and family – calling them Flowers for Freddie.
The flowers helped raise money for charity and her workmates in Southport also started fundraising for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.
Siobhan and Dave were overwhelmed with joy when they found out they were expecting a baby, and Rowan was born in October 2024.
The proud new mum said: “Rowan will grow up learning all about her special big brother Freddie. I say thanks to him all the time for giving me the strength to carry on even when I didn’t feel I could.
“There is a lot of hope in our story. Clatterbridge gave me hope and the belief that I would be well again.
“Rowan and I might not be here if it wasn’t for Clatterbridge. That is how vital the hospital was for us and why supporting them is so important.”
Fundraising Manager Rachel Beverley said: “We are so grateful to Siobhan for supporting our appeal and helping the one in two people in our region affected by cancer.
“The family’s story is one of hope and we are so grateful to them for sharing their experience at Clatterbridge.
“Every donation made to our summer appeal will help people like Siobhan who are being treated for cancer.”
Clatterbridge Cancer Charity funds a range of projects to help local people with cancer. They include funding equipment such as scalp coolers for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment to help prevent hair loss, a lunch club for the Teenage and Young Adults ward to prevent social isolation, an arts programme for patients and much more.
The Charity has also committed to investing £5 million across five years to take ground-breaking research work at Clatterbridge to the next level. This will give patients unparalleled access to new, life-saving treatments.
You can donate here and find out more about the work of the charity to help local people with cancer.
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