A YOUNG family is raising money to support their toddler after finding out their mum has just months to live.
Sandy Hubbard, 35, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma – bile duct cancer – in March, and was told by doctors recently that she has months, if not weeks, left with her family.
Mrs Hubbard met her husband Ben, a 37-year-old serviceman at RAF Benson, in 2009, with the couple getting married in August 2015.
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To support their two-year-old son, Reuben, in the future, the family is looking to raise £100,000 via GoFundMe.
Almost £23,000 has already been donated, with the money set to go towards Reuben’s education and to support his dad financially.
“We’re overwhelmed by the support from friends, and strangers too,” Mrs Hubbard told this newspaper.
“Many people didn’t realise the seriousness of the situation.
“I’d given this battle 100 per cent and I wanted to be better for my son.
“I wanted to be there for his first day at school and his first school trip, but I won’t get to see that.
“Knowing I won’t be able to contribute to his upbringing, I wanted to Reuben to have all the things he wants in life.
“I’m from Poland initially and I want him to have Polish lessons, and embrace that Polish heritage.
“I just want to give him a chance in life.”
Mr Hubbard, originally from Lincoln, added: “We found out in March but kept it private, but the diagnosis that it was terminal changed everything.
“The messages of support from everyone have been very humbling.
“Sandy’s family and friends have been flying over from Poland, in shifts almost, to be here – that’s the level of support she’s had.”
Mr Hubbard will have been based at RAF Benson for five years in October.
He said: “The RAF has been so supportive, specifically Sergeant Jones, for allowing extra time off.
“I’ve been allowed to be off for three months so I could be at the hospital.
“Sandy’s the most selfless, caring, loving person I’ve ever known in my life.
“She’s had messages from people she worked with two jobs ago.
“I want to print all the messages and put them in a book for Reuben, so he knows there’s 400 messages out there, and it’s not just me being bias about his mum.
“When I grew up as a kid, I didn’t have a lot – my thinking was that I wanted to have a child slightly later in life, so I was more ready.
“Not being able to provide that for Reuben means that what I didn’t want to happen is becoming a reality.”
To donate, please visit: gofundme.com/f/mums-last-dying-wish-this-is-for-my-son-reuben
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This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
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