A mother who received a ‘devastating’ late-stage cancer diagnosis just months after giving birth has raised over £50,000 towards treatment costs and her baby's future.
Evre Başak Clarke, 38, was blindsided by a late-stage diagnosis of bowel and liver cancer less than a year after settling in Gerrards Cross with her husband Philip, 39, and their newborn son Oscar last autumn.
The “devastating” news, which Philip described as “completely out of the blue”, was initially difficult for the couple to process not only for its emotional ramifications but the financial challenges posed by chemotherapy treatment, childcare costs and travel for Evre’s family, who are based in Turkey.
After being urged by friends to share their story and seek help online, the 38-year-old created a GoFundMe page in late September with a goal of £50,000. As of November 8, the page has raised £51,173, with surplus money after treatment and travel costs going towards baby Oscar’s future.
When asked how it felt to have attracted such support from friends and strangers who had been touched by the story, Philip said the fundraiser had “made a massive difference" to their stress level during the incredibly difficult time.
He added: “Money doesn’t solve problems, but it does relieve some issues. I didn’t realise how expensive everything was going to be – my dad and step-mum came down to stay recently when Evre had to be kept in hospital for a few days after her treatment, and just putting them up in a hotel cost £400 or £500.”
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A lifting of the financial burden on the young family has also given Evre the freedom to use her time in hospital to rediscover her love of art. An artist by profession, Philip said his wife “has dedicated herself to her clients for years” but that the shock of her diagnosis jolted her into reassessing her priorities, prompting her to return to painting "for her heart”.
In a recent update to the fundraiser, Evre shared three digital artworks of her son she had completed during a recent hospital stay, one of which she created to celebrate his first birthday, on November 16, and the other looking ahead to the Christmas season.
She wrote: “My goal is to paint a portrait of (Oscar) on every birthday, creating a beautiful tradition of celebrating his life and my recovery through art.”
Philip said he had been “so impressed” by his wife’s “incredible strength” over the tumultuous few months since she had received the diagnosis, praising her ability to “continue looking for joy by focusing on Oscar and on art, two of the loves of her life”.
“It’s terrifying to have a young child and be in this situation, but it also brings you back to the present. Oscar isn’t aware of the future or the past and knowing that gives you a purpose to fight through the pain.”
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