Tragedy as mum sent on family holiday by fundraisers loses cancer battle
A mother-of-six from Wolverhampton who enjoyed a last family holiday thanks to a fundraising campaign launched by her autistic son has died.
Louise Glover was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in May 2013 and fought the disease for three years despite initially being told she had just 12 months to live.
Her story captured the imagination of people across the Black Country after her son, Kyle, decided he wanted their family to go on one last holiday before she died.
The 'Kyle's Dream' campaign raised more than £3,000 and in September last year 43-year-old Louise and her family spent two weeks together at Butlins in Somerset.
Her eldest son, Ashley, 25, said: "In the end the campaign raised between £3,000 and £3,500 which we all thought was just fantastic.
"We were able to go away for what we had planned to be a week at Butlins, but mum was enjoying it so much she wanted to stay an extra week and we managed to sort it.
"Mum had only really been to Blackpool but this was a proper family holiday for us.
"We are all so proud of Kyle. Obviously he has his autism and it shocked us all a bit for him to come up with an idea like that."
The fundraising efforts saw everything from eight-year-old Angel Cox raise more than £500 by selling her own toys from a stall in her front garden to local businesses dip into their pockets.
There was particular support in Tipton where Louise's brother-in-law Lee runs the Tilted Barrel pub.
Louise, of Moseley Road, Bilston, was diagnosed after a lump in her foot, which she had previously ignored, began to hurt.
She was originally told it was probably just a varicose vein but, not satisfied with the diagnosis, Louise insisted on getting a second opinion and was sent for a scan at New Cross Hospital.
The lump was removed and, after a tantalising wait, six weeks later she was told she had leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, and that it had begun to spread.
She became only the twelfth patient the Queen Elizabeth Hospital had treated for the illness in 15 years.
Louise died on May 4 having suffered a negative reaction to her latest chemotherapy treatment.
Ashley has paid tribute to his 'brilliant' mother.
He said: "She always put others first. She would never buy anything for herself, it would always be us first. She was a really brilliant mum.
"She was devastated, we all were, when we got the diagnosis. But then she started to deal with it as anyone would, we all did."
Louise leaves behind her husband Lindon and six children, Ashley, 25, Lauren, 20, Elle, 19, Kyle, 17, Eston, 10, and six-year-old Gracie
Her funeral will take place at Saint Leonard's Church, Walsall Street, Bilston, on June 1 at 1pm.
