A mum-of-six who battled cervical cancer says she can never thank her daughter enough for taking charge of her care.

Kay Devine, 37, of Cressing Road, Witham, was diagnosed with the disease in 2012, when one of her three daughters, Jessica Mitchell, then 15, persuaded her to go for a smear test.

Ms Devine is now in remission after a hysterectomy, radiotherapy and seven other operations at Ipswich Hospital.

Miss Mitchell gave up her education at New Rickstones Academy aged 16 to care for her four younger siblings and her mum, although she still persevered and went in for GCSE exam days.

She is now a carer at Boars Tye care home, Silver End, and has hopes of becoming an oncology nurse.

Ms Devine said: “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here. She’s been my rock through everything.

“Jessica was 15 at the time I fell ill and she did everything a mum should do, as well as being my carer.

“I didn’t have much family around and I had an abscess that nearly killed me.

“Jessica learnt how to use the VAC machine to heal the wounds, got me in and out of the bath and changed my colostomy bag.

“She’s done things a daughter shouldn’t have to do.

“I don’t think children that have a parent suffering from cancer are recognised like they should be.”

Miss Mitchell would take younger siblings Jarrard, Jaidon and Eliesha to All Saints primary school in Maldon before going to school in Witham with younger brother Zac.

She would then pick them up from school, organise her mum’s medication and make meals for the family every day.

Ms Devine said: “It has impacted hugely on her life - it was very distressing for her.

“My nerves were severed in my stomach and legs from an eight-hour hysterectomy, so I live my life on morphene. Jessica continues to help me now, despite being a full-time carer for elderly people with dementia.

“At one point it wasn’t looking good for me, there was a time where it looked like I was going to die.

“I don’t know how to thank her, she is so special. I am a very lucky mum.”

Miss Mitchell said it made her happy to know that she was there during her mum’s darkest times.

She said: “We’ve been through a really hard time and I had more responsibility than I has ever had.

“It has made me a lot stronger and has shaped my career path, but when it’s your mum it is a lot harder.

“I was really hurting but noticing the smallest things making a difference to her day made me feel proud of myself.”

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