Lee Rawlinson, a 51-year-old marathon runner from Essex, UK, was recently given a devastating diagnosis—terminal pancreatic cancer.
Doctors informed him that the cancer had spread to his liver, making it inoperable and leaving him with just a few months to live.
Despite this heartbreaking news, Lee is determined to make the most of his remaining time, focusing on creating “magical memories” with his wife, Faye, and their two children, Darcey, 10, and Marley, 7.
“I don’t fear death,” Lee shared, “I fear leaving my children and Faye behind—not being there for them in their times of need.”
As he prepares for his “last Christmas” with his family, Lee is also advocating for greater awareness of pancreatic cancer, hoping to prevent others from suffering the same fate.
The Unseen Symptom
Before receiving his terminal diagnosis, Lee experienced a seemingly innocuous symptom: a dull ache in his lower abdomen.
Initially, he dismissed it as stress-related. However, after visiting his GP and being referred to a gastroenterologist, the pain intensified over time, eventually becoming unbearable.