A terminally-ill mother faced with saying goodbye to her Down’s Syndrome son was visited by a ‘unicorn’ to make the heart-wrenching task momentarily less painful.
Sammi Fox, 29, has just days to live after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bowel cancer last Monday.
She posted an emotional message on Facebook to tell her friends and family of how quickly her illness had progressed and how she faced saying goodbye to her boys Bobby, five, and Kai, 13.
But after being inundated with messages of support, she did not expect a visit from a unicorn – her favourite legendary creature.
Terminally ill mother-of-two Sammi Fox (pictured), 29, was paid a visit by her favourite mystical creature after telling the world about her bowel cancer diagnosis
When the 29-year-old from North Shields, posted an emotional video of her cuddling her son Bobby, five, who has Down’s Syndrome, she was inundated with messages – including a special request from a unicorn
Heartbroken by what she had read, Lisa Walker, who works at Mini Pony Hire in Cambois, Northumberland, rushed to the front of the queue to pay Ms Fox a visit.
Tears flowed as Mother-of-two Ms Walker, 41, arrived at Marie Curie Hospice in Newcastle with one of her pet therapy ponies Smurf dressed as a unicorn.
Ms Fox’s sister Kelle, 32, told of how a visit from her favourite imaginary animal lifted her spirits.
The mother-of-four told ChroniceLive: ‘She is getting weaker.
‘But when we asked if she wanted a visit from a unicorn she said yes. She loves unicorns and said ‘where is it’ as soon as we asked her.’
‘When the unicorn arrived she FaceTimed Bobby and niece Brooke so they could watch. It was lovely and we even had a laugh when Smurf sneezed on her.’
Ms Walker explained how after seeing Ms Fox’s heart-rending story on social media, she knew she had to do something.
Lisa Walker (pictured) who works for a nearby pony sanctuary brought Smurf to her hospice in Newcastle to try to lift her spirits
She said: ‘When the story came up on my Facebook news feed I just wanted to do something for Sammi.
‘It said she loved unicorns and our pet pony Smurf gets dressed up for functions and pantomimes so I though it would be lovely for Sammi to have a unicorn come and visit.
‘Smurf went straight through the double doors and to the side of her bed and started sniffing and nudging in to her. She then laughed when he snorted on her.
‘She loved it and despite the circumstances it was really nice.’
Ms Fox, sent tears falling down thousands of faces after she posted her emotional video on Facebook. She is pictured in her hospice bed with son Bobby and niece Brooke, two
Ms Fox, of North Shields, posted a tear-jerking video of her cuddling Bobby, who has Down’s Syndrome, on her hospice bed earlier this week.
The mother-of-two is relying on her mother Denise, 51, to look after Bobby when she is gone.
His birthday, days before Christmas on December 19, is being made special by his mother before she passes away.
Her emotional Facebook post has yielded over £8,000 in donations towards her funeral.
It read: ‘As most of you are aware I’ve been quite unwell for sometime now.
‘My diagnosis is bowel cancer which has spread to my ovaries. As of today I’ve been given literally DAYS to spend with my beautiful friends and family!
‘I’m going to miss every single beautiful person I’ve met in my life – there’s some absolutely awesome people in my life and I love you truly!
She added: ‘Today I was given the news of literally days, maybe a week to live!!
‘I have two beautiful boys who I’m going to miss growing up!
‘I have amazing family and friends that I want to spend my life with but can’t!! I just want you all to know how much you truly all mean to me!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!’
Ms Fox is relying on her mother Denise, 51, to look after Bobby (pictured) when she has gone. She is already making plans to make sure his birthday this year is still special
Her sister added: ‘Sammi hasn’t lost her sense of humour and is still coming out with her one-liners. She loved the unicorn and so did the kids on FaceTime.
‘She is so selfless, even though she knows she has days to live, she is making sure everyone else knows what needs doing and making plans for Bobby.
‘Her friend Patricia Thomas set up a fund to raise money for her funeral but Sammi says she wants it to also be for her boys and to make Christmas and Bobby’s birthday on December 19 special.
‘It’s heartbreaking to see her cuddle Bobby, knowing she’s not got long.
‘Even my two-year-old daughter Brooke went to see her and said ‘are you going to be an angel like nanna?’. It’s devastating.’
She continued: ‘She’s given us a detailed funeral plan and wants all her friends and family to wear bright colours.
‘She is never a dull person so she wants her funeral to reflect that.
‘It’s an absolutely heartbreaking situation we’re in. It’s come so quick and too soon.’
The family’s heart-breaking story started eight months ago when Ms Fox was treated for stomach problems she thought was Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
It was later thought she could possibly have gallstones and was sent for a scan which discovered a tumour on her ovaries.
She was offered a hysterectomy but was in so much pain was admitted to hospital on October 2.
But it was on October 9 that medics said she only had days or possibly a week to live.
The family say they have been overwhelmed by the level of support and kind donations.