Connie Johnson has shared the heartbreaking reality of her life in hospice care, as she nears the end of her fight against terminal cancer.
The sister of actor Samuel Johnson described how she has been ‘mourning the loss of my bodily function’ in a post made to the Love Your Sister page Tuesday.
The mother-of-two revealed that while she can no longer walk and finds breathing difficult, she has been doing her best to ‘find the positives’.
Connie Johnson (pictured) shared the heartbreaking reality of her life in hospice care in a post Tuesday, as she nears the end of her fight against terminal cancer
‘I can’t walk anymore. Breathing has become difficult with the swelling of the liver. Sitting up is difficult with the swollen abdomen,’ she wrote.
Ms Johnson even revealed that eating had become ‘a bit of a chore’ and had left her feeling ‘cheated out’ of such everyday experiences.
But ever the optimist, she pointed out all the things that she was still lucky enough to have.
‘I still have my mind, there’s no cancer there. I still have my hands and arms for hugging my children,’ Ms Johnson wrote.
‘I still have eyesight for seeing my friends, I still have my hearing for lovely conversations and music.’
She finished off her note by stating how she ‘celebrated’ these moments and despite her battle with breast and liver cancer still managed to be ‘wonderfully happy’.
The sister of actor Samuel Johnson (pictured together) described how she has been ‘mourning the loss of my bodily function’ since moving into hospice care
The mother-of-two revealed in the Love Your Sister post that she can no longer walk and finds breathing difficult, but has been doing her best to ‘find the positives’
The post drew an overwhelmingly show of support, with more than 64,000 reactions and thousands of comments.
People praised Ms Johnson for her honesty and for sharing her story with others around the world.
‘I am so amazed at your positivity and courage. I don’t think you will ever know what a huge inspiration you are to so many people,’ one person wrote.
Another added: ‘Thank you for reminding us no matter how hard life is we still have the simple things.’
Ever the optimist, Ms Johnson pointed out all the things that she was still lucky enough to have, including ‘arms for hugging my kids’ and ‘eyesight for seeing my friends’
Ms Johnson and her brother (pictured together) have been vigorously campaigning to raise funds and awareness to beat cancer following her diagnosis four years ago
It comes just days after the brave mum ‘broke out of hospice’ to take part in a fundraiser for the Hearts As Big As Yours campaign.
Ms Johnson attended the art project in Canberra on Sunday, sporting a pink beanie and big smile as she took to Instagram.
‘About to break out of the hospice now. I’m on my way. Can’t wait to see Marie and all the villagers. See you there soon,’ she wrote.
The venture was founded by Sydney artist Marie Ramos and involves collecting fingerprints shaped like love hearts.
Ms Johnson and her brother have been vigorously campaigning to raise funds and awareness to beat cancer following her diagnosis four years ago.
The Gold-Logie winning actor rode around Australia on a unicycle in 2013, raising $1.6 million for breast cancer awareness and research.
Her post came just days after the brave mum ‘broke out of hospice’ to take part in a fundraiser for the Hearts As Big As Yours campaign
Ms Johnson decided to end all treatment earlier this year, having gone through a double mastectomy and gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation
While this year the pair’s Big Heart Project, where five cent pieces were made into a giant heart, raised more than $2 million.
Ms Johnson decided to end all treatment earlier this year, having gone through a double mastectomy and gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.
She had previously suffered bone cancer at age 11 and a tumour in her womb at 22, before she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
‘That’s 10 to 11 years of cancer treatment in a 40-year lifespan and I guess my organs are just saying, “No more. No more”,’ Connie told The Canberra Times.
The Love Your Sister social media accounts document her brave journey and her brother’s never-ending support.
The mum-of-two had previously suffered bone cancer at age 11 and a tumour in her womb at 22, before she was diagnosed with breast cancer