A single mum has passed away after choosing to end her cancer treatment because it was causing her more pain than the disease itself.
Nina Lowe, 46, from Edinburgh, had been bravely battling cancer since 2017 and she was told that the disease had become terminal in January of this year.
She went on to stop treatment for the disease as she said that chemotherapy was more painful than the cancer itself, writing that it was making her 'extremely ill'.
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Nina, a single mum to two young daughters, sadly then passed away on Friday 23 September at St Columba's Hospice in the Scottish capital.
Her death was announced by her friend Lisa Kinnear, who wrote: "This is the update I never wanted to write. The most amazing friend and human being Nina Lowe passed away on Friday morning surrounded by friends and family in St Columba's Hospice.
"My heart is broken but was so grateful to share the last few days with Nina, her family and closest friends staying with Nina in the hospice [sic]."
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While Nina's children are now being cared for by friends and family, prior to her death, she set up a GoFundMe to enable them to keep their home as they came to terms with her death.
It was initially created with the target of raising £7,200 - the equivalent of six months' rent - but that amount has been surpassed and a whooping £57,090 has been raised at the time of writing.
Lisa continued: "The staff there looked after Nina and all of us with such compassion and it allowed us to spend precious time together. I can't yet think about how my life will be without Nina but I'm so privileged to have shared so many ups (so many laughs) and downs with this beautiful lady.
"The world is now a sadder place. Thank you so much for all your donations. It really did give Nina a great deal of comfort to know the girls have security going forward."
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Explaining her reasons for setting up the GoFundMe, Nina wrote prior to her death: "I would be utterly heartbroken if the girls had to move away from everything they know, just after losing me. These thoughts are tormenting me."
The mum went on to write her farewell on the GoFundMe page, explaining that her heart is broken for everyone she had to leave behind.
She added: "I've thought about a million ways to say goodbye, and I've realised….there is just no way to say goodbye. I am not ready to leave you all. My heart is broken. It does not break for me….only for those, I leave behind [sic].
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"My darling children. My amazing family. My close beautiful friends. My loves, and of course our new puppy. Just everyone who has been there for me, you have all made me have the most wonderful life. I feel incredibly blessed. I guess I am really one of the lucky ones too, as not many people get to even say goodbye."
You can donate to Nina's GoFundMe for her daughters here.
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Emma Guinness