She underwent a lifesaving operation when her bowel perforated on her return home from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, where she was being treated, after two gruelling five-day bouts of chemotherapy. But she pulled through after surgeons removed two tumours the size of lemons from her bowel.
Karen restarted chemotherapy in February 2008 and was delighted when, during a break in treatment, her family organised a surprise trip for her to Disneyland Paris to celebrate her 40th birthday. Karen was really happy, she was so surprised and didn’t have a clue about the trip. Although it was clear she struggled and got tired easily, she kept a brave face for her two young sons and definitely enjoyed herself. The family was hopeful that she was going to be all right.
Karen died at The Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth in the early hours of Sunday 13th July 2008, she was 40 years old.