Saturday, September 3, 2016

Terminally-ill woman who touched thousands with brave TV shows about living with cancer dies eight months after achieving her biggest bucket list ambition - her 40th birthday party

Rowena Kincaid was diagnosed with secondary cancer and told without treatment, she would have between three and six months to live. She died on Friday
A terminally-ill woman who defied doctors' expectations to mark her 40th birthday has died.
Rowena Kincaid, 40, died of breast cancer yesterday. 
Rowena, from Cardiff, presented two documentaries about what to do with the time she had left when she was told she had cancer. 
The BBC Wales picture editor was just 33 and had recently returned from travelling in New Zealand when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.
In 2013, having previously undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she was diagnosed with secondary cancer and said she felt she was living on 'borrowed time'.
She decided to make two documentaries, called Before I Kick The Bucket, about living with the disease.

Rowena, pictured, created a bucket list of things to do before she died, with her biggest hope to be to make it to her 40th birthday  She celebrated her 40th with a party at Cardiff Castle
Rowena, pictured left and right, created a bucket list of things to do before she died, with her biggest hope to be to make it to her 40th birthday
Rowena pictured with a friend before her diagnosis. She went on to fight cancer twice, but died on September 2
Rowena pictured with a friend before her diagnosis. She went on to fight cancer twice, but died on September 2
She also campaigned to raise awareness of how early diagnosis can save lives.
Following her death BBC Cymru Wales director Rhodri Talfan Davies described her as a 'wonderful, generous and life-enhancing colleague'.
'Her courage and humour in confronting her illness inspired millions of viewers across the UK through the remarkable documentaries she made, which told a story about life much more than death,' he said.
'Their impact was enormous with everybody who saw them.
'I was privileged to meet her while she made these extraordinary programmes and I will never forget her determination, in the face of such a cruel illness, to live well and to treasure every second.
'Our thoughts, of course, are with her family and many, many friends.'

Rowena, pictured at her 40th birthday party in Cardiff Castle, filmed two documentaries about life with cancer
Rowena, pictured at her 40th birthday party in Cardiff Castle, filmed two documentaries about life with cancer
The second documentary aired this year, which she called 'a dream come true'. Rowena worked as a picture editor for BBC Wales
The second documentary aired this year, which she called 'a dream come true'. Rowena worked as a picture editor for BBC Wales
Earlier this year Rowena's second documentary - Before I Kick The Bucket: The Whole Story - aired, which she described as 'a dream come true'.
'Over the last 12 months there have been times when I never thought I would finish making this film,' she said. 'It has helped me and it has kept me going.'
When she first received her terminal diagnosis Rowena streaked down Cardiff's Queen Street, went to Cuba, and married a stranger.
'If these are my final months I don't just want to tick off a list of wacky clichés,' she reflected.
'I want to live well and treasure every single second.'

Following her death BBC Cymru Wales director Rhodri Talfan Davies described her as a 'wonderful, generous and life-enhancing colleague'

Rowena said she was 'living on borrowed time'  Rowena cut off all her hair before she started chemotherapy and documented its regrowth, pictured, between chemotherapy sessions
Rowena cut off all her hair before she started chemotherapy and documented its regrowth, pictured right, between chemotherapy sessons
As part of the process of making the showed Rowena planning her own funeral, with dance track God Is A DJ by Faithless among her music choices.
'I'm not a boring person, I don't want a boring funeral,' she said.
During filming she also visited a crematorium to help her decide whether to be buried or cremated and watched the coffins going into the furnace.
She added: 'Planning my death is not so much difficult as surreal.
'I know that everyone eventually dies, it's just so hard to imagine the party continuing without me.'
Reflecting on what she learnt while making her documentary, Rowena said: 'Don't wait until it's too late or leave it all to chance - just grab life by the balls.'

No comments:

Post a Comment

DONATE