Laura touched so many in her short life - mum

The mother of woman whose work to raise awareness of brain cancer inspired people across the world hopes her book about her will "keep her memory alive".

Nicola Nuttall's daughter Laura, of Barrowford, Lancashire, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2018 and died, aged 23, in May 2023.

Despite being given an initial prognosis of 12 months, she defied the odds and worked her way through a bucket list of goals including meeting Michelle Obama.

Nicola's book, The Stars Will Still Be There: A memoir of what my daughter taught me about love, life and loss is published on Thursday.

Laura was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, following a routine eye test.

Nicola said as well as telling her family's story, she also hoped her memoir could help others going through a similar situation, or a health issue that "puts pressure on the whole family".

The family has continued Laura's campaign work since her death, and her legacy, the Be More Laura Foundation, has already made grants and donations of £85,000 to research projects, Nicola said.

"She hated it every time we had another person diagnosed, another small child dealing with this awful diagnosis.

"That was the only time she really got upset... so in her memory we want to help try and move towards, if not a cure, then certainly kinder and more effective treatment."

Nicola reveals in the book the family had endured tragedy before.

She said Laura was named after her own sister, who died when she was very young.

Nicola said she wanted to make her parents happy by naming her Laura after their late daughter, but in a cruel twist of fate it ended up breaking their hearts again.

"I made them relive it for a second time, which was really hard because they had to go through the loss of their granddaughter, but also seeing us going through the devastation that they went through.

"I named her Laura with the best will in the world.

"I would never have imagined in a million years we'd be grieving a second Laura."

The book also documents Laura's bucket list and her inspirational campaigning, which endeared her to people all over the world.

Her exploits would see her command a Royal Navy ship and graduate from the University of Manchester.

Nicola said the family had been "so lucky" to have had such support for Laura's adventures.

"Those memories were so precious because when things were tough and she was poorly, we had this amazing mental album to look back on," she said.

Nicola still keeps in touch with people from across the world who were inspired by her daughter, such as a man in America who sent $41 a month towards Laura's treatment, and a teacher in Brazil who talks about her in her classes and has a Laura "Be kind" print on the classroom wall.

"A life that has touched so many other lives isn't a life wasted, even if it was so short," Nicola said.

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