Naomi Knighton, from Derby, doesn't know how long she's got left to live but doctors have told her to "prepare for the worst".
The 26-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia as a teen but after two bone marrow transplants, the "very aggressive" cancer has become untreatable.
The young mum is now having to prepare to leave her little son, J'varn, behind.
Naomi's sister Kirsty, 32, said it's hard to believe that Naomi has no more options open to her, although J'varn is putting on a brave face.
She told Derbyshire Live: “J’varn took it really well on the day she told him. He accepted it. I think, in a way, because she’s always been poorly he’s used to her being in and out of hospital.
“That has sort of helped him.”
The pair has moved in with Naomi's mum Jean as she fights through the final stages of her life.
Kirsty added: "It's heartbreaking. We have watched her go through so much and we always assumed she would get through it because she always has managed to get through – and she’s so strong.
"There have been times that the doctors have been surprised when she’s got through it. She always pulls through against the odds."
Naomi was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia as a teen after her mum noticed she was suffering from a lot of colds, throat infections and coughs.
She was told that she had just weeks to live on January 11 this year, but that she could buy some more time by receiving a cocktail of chemo and steroids.
Naomi chose the latter option.
Kirsty, who was with Naomi at the time, said: “They said she had two choices. She could stop everything that day and let it be.
Symptoms of leukemia
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Not everyone with CML will have symptoms when they are diagnosed. Their CML may have been picked up during a routine blood test. When symptoms do occur they are usually mild at first and gradually get worse.
Symptoms can include:
- getting regular infections
- tiredness
- abnormal bruising or bleeding
- belly pain
- lack of appetite
- weight loss
- night sweats
- headache
- bone pain
- swollen lymph glands
"But the doctor said it would be quick as it was very aggressive. He said we would be talking weeks, not months.
“The option Naomi chose was to buy some more time.”
J'varn has been told that his mum doesn't have long left.
The family are now raising money for Naomi's funeral and since setting up the fund, have almost reached their £2,500 goal.
The money will go towards Naomi’s requests of a white coffin, a “nice headstone for her son to go to”, and a party-style event with music and dancing after her funeral.
They are also trying to raise awareness of how easy and important it is to become a stem cell donor.
"It's hard to get cell donors in the UK, as there are not enough people prepared to donate their cells," the GoFundMe page says.
"Naomi has had a donor from Germany previously.
"So we're urging people to look into the Antony Nolan project and become a stem cell donor.
"It really can save somebody's life."
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