'Help our amazing mum' - daughters rally community

ON THE day of the operation to remove rare cancerous tumours from her bowel and ovaries, Sally Robinson was told another patient, lying in a hospital bed thousands of miles away in America, was going through the same thing.

So she sent them flowers. 

“She puts everyone before herself, all the time,” Ms Robinson’s daughter, Laura Howe said.

“She thinks of others first, always.”

But this time not just one person, but an entire community is thinking of Ms Robinson first.

Since her daughter set up a fundraising page on Monday night more than $3000 has been donated towards the Mandurah woman’s cause by family, friends and strangers. 

All money raised will go towards fitting a shower cubicle in her bathroom, making it easier for her to wash each day.

The 48-year-old, who has peritoneal cancer, was given three to six months to live in 2011. 

But a recent operation to put a stent in her liver left her with an infection which almost killed her, and now daily routines like pulling on a pair of trousers or climbing into the bath can leave her weak and short of breath.

I JUST WANT HER TO FEEL A BIT NORMAL.- LAURA HOWE

“She’s had two falls in the bathroom already,” Ms Howe said.

“Anyone else would love her bathroom - its got a big spa bath in the middle - but she has to climb into it to have a shower.

“I always overhear her and her partner say when they win lotto they would re-do the bathroom; I thought if I could do it faster it would make one thing easier for her.

“She was a really open person before the cancer, but it took away a lot of her personality.

“I just want her to feel a bit normal.”

Ms Howe said she and her sister Kelsey were hoping to raise $5000 towards the new shower, and said she felt “impolite” to ask for any more.    

“She’s a very proud person so I didn’t want to make her feel embarrassed,” Ms Howe said.

“I didn’t expect this response, raising the amount that we have so quickly.  

“When mum found out about the [fundraising] page she rang me in tears and I didn’t know whether I had upset her, but she said no, they’re good tears.

“Last night she sent me a message saying ‘how could I ever thank you for all you’re doing for me'.

“It keeps her going, knowing that there are so many people out there that care about her.

“She’s feels she’s just another person.”  

Donations can be made at mycause.

Read the story or see the campaign