The adoptive mother of inspirational double-amputee Tony Hudgell has described surviving the "most brutal" surgery of her life, vowing to continue her fight against stage four bowel cancer.
A Gruelling Fight Against Cancer
Former nurse Paula Hudgell, 58, from West Malling in Kent, spent 12 days in hospital following a major two-part surgical procedure and a hernia repair. She took to Instagram to share her harrowing experience, stating she would not "sugar-coat" the ordeal.
"I won't sugar-coat it - that first week was the most brutal thing I have ever been through," Mrs Hudgell wrote. "The pain, the exhaustion, the fear… there were moments I didn't know how I would get through it."
The surgery she underwent is known as HIPEC and CRS (Cytoreductive Surgery). This is an intensive treatment for advanced abdominal cancers, involving the removal of visible tumours followed by heated chemotherapy pumped directly into the abdominal cavity.
A History of Misdiagnosis and a Devastating Return
Paula Hudgell was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2022. Shockingly, she claims her symptoms were dismissed by GPs as IBS or menopause on 14 separate occasions over four years before she received the correct diagnosis.
By the time the cancer was found, the tumour had grown through her bowel wall. Her consultant believed it could have been developing for up to a decade. After initial surgery and chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free, only to receive the devastating news that the disease had returned as stage four cancer, spreading to her lung and the lining of her abdomen (peritoneal lining).
She shared the update in July last year, writing: "It's been a huge shock... I'm ready to give this the biggest fight of my life."
Strength from Family and a National Campaign
In her recent post, Mrs Hudgell shared a photo of herself wearing a black headscarf beside her son Tony. She credited her determination to walk repeatedly during recovery for helping her return home after those 12 days. "Those walks carried me through," she explained.
She acknowledged the ongoing physical and emotional toll, revealing her body carries over 60 staples from the operation. But her message was one of defiance: "Either way, we keep going."
Paula Hudgell became a prominent campaigner after adopting Tony, now 11, who had both legs amputated as a baby after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his birth parents. Her efforts led to "Tony's Law", legislation that increased maximum prison sentences for child cruelty, for which she received an OBE in 2022.
The family faces profound challenges. Three months ago, Paula revealed that Tony has been telling his teacher he is "worried about Mummy." She told the Mirror that Tony does not know her diagnosis is terminal, stating, "We'll keep that from him for as long as we possibly can."
Her Instagram update attracted messages of support from well-known figures, including former BBC Radio 2 host Zoe Ball and fashion designer Karen Millen.
