Naomi Knighton was a teenager when she started to have problems with colds and throat infections. This single mom from the UK is now 26 and as her mother watched her getting sick so frequently, she took her to the doctor. The doctor gave her the worst news she could ever receive, her daughter had a rare form of leukemia.

In an effort to prolong her life, she underwent two bone marrow transplants. On January 11, however, her doctors once again gave her bad news. They told her that if she didn’t take a strong dose of chemo and steroids, she would be dead within weeks. This isn’t only a problem for her, she also has a 6-year-old son named J’varn.

That is when she made the decision that all of us would make. She went through with the treatment to stay around just a little longer for her son. Kirsty, her sister was there with her when she received the news:

“They said she had two choices. She could stop everything that day and let it be. But the doctor said it would be quick as it was very aggressive. He said we would be talking weeks, not months. The option Naomi chose was to buy some more time.”

It was time that Naomi needed to get her little boy ready to live life without her.

“J’varn took it really well on the day she told him,” Kirsty said. “He accepted it. I think, in a way, because she’s always been poorly he’s used to her being in and out of hospital. That has sort of helped him.”

Kirsty added:

“It’s heartbreaking. We have watched her go through so much and we always assumed she would get through it because she always has managed to get through – and she’s so strong. There have been times that the doctors have been surprised when she’s got through it. She always pulls through against the odds.”

Funds are now being raised for Naomi’s funeral. She would like to be buried in a white coffin and have a beautiful headstone so her son could feel comfortable when he went to visit. It is also hoped that her story will raise awareness of stem cell donations. Naomi did have a donor but it wasn’t able to save her.

The following is from her GoFundMe page:

“My sister Naomi is 26 years old. She was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia as a teenager and she has battled against this for years. Naomi has already undergone two bone marrow transplants. Unfortunately, we have been told there is nothing more that can be done for Naomi. Her leukemia is back five months after her last transplant. We have been told its very aggressive and resistant to all treatments given. We have been told to prepare for the worst. Naomi has a six-year-old son too. As a family, we are heartbroken for our beautiful Naomi, who has battled for so long and remained so strong throughout it all. Our aim is to raise money to carry out her final wishes and give her the send of she deserves. Also as a family, we would like to raise awareness on becoming a stem cell donor. It’s hard to get cell donors in the UK, as there are not enough people prepared to donate their cells. Naomi has had a donor from Germany previously. So we’re urging people to look into the Antony Nolan project and become a stem cell donor. It really can save somebody’s life.”

Our thoughts go out to Naomi and for the comfort of her little boy during this difficult time in their lives.