Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of campaigner Tony Hudgell, has shared an emotional and deeply candid update after undergoing life-altering cancer surgery – describing her recovery as “the most brutal thing I have ever been through.”
The former nurse, 58, who was previously diagnosed with bowel cancer and later told the disease had returned at stage four, has now undergone complex HIPEC and CRS surgery alongside hernia repair – an intensive procedure used to target advanced abdominal cancer.
In a raw message shared from hospital recovery, Paula admitted the physical and emotional toll was overwhelming, revealing there were moments she genuinely feared she might not make it through the early stages of recovery.
“The pain, the exhaustion, the fear… there were moments I didn’t know how I would get through it,” she wrote. “But somehow, step by step, I did.”
Despite the severity of the surgery, Paula confirmed she was discharged after 12 days in hospital and is now continuing her recovery at home, describing it as a slow process of rebuilding both physically and emotionally.
Her update comes after a long and difficult medical journey, following an initial diagnosis in 2022, a period of remission, and then devastating news that the cancer had returned and spread.
Paula, who was awarded an OBE for her campaigning work that led to “Tony’s Law”, remains determined to keep going despite her terminal diagnosis, saying simply: “Either way, we keep going.”
The post has triggered an outpouring of support online, with public figures and fans praising her strength and resilience.
Meanwhile, concern remains within the family circle, as Paula has previously revealed that Tony is unaware of the full seriousness of her condition, with the family trying to protect him from the harsh reality for as long as possible.
For now, Paula continues recovery day by day – holding onto hope, strength, and family love at the centre of her fight.
