From meeting Obama to performing with Peter Kay, I made the most of life even though docs gave me a year to live
LIFE rarely goes to plan – as graduate Laura Nuttall knows only too well.
Aged 19, she had just started university when she was diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer and doctors predicted she would be dead within a year.
So Laura decided to make the most of whatever time she had left.
She says: “It was scary how my circumstances had changed so much. So I decided to start a bucket list to help fill the time.”
Her first wish was to visit the Heinz Baked Beans factory in Wigan — and from there the ideas just grew.
In the last couple of years Laura has met former US First Lady Michelle Obama and Bowelbabe Dame Deborah James, who died in June.
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She has also appeared on stage with comic Peter Kay, been fishing with TV stars Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse and had her photograph taken with newsreader Fiona Bruce and actor Gillian Anderson.
She has captained a warship, trained to tackle a prison riot, flown over the equator, carried the Commonwealth Games baton and made a plasticine model with Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park.
But Laura, 22, has also undergone three lots of brain surgery, 19 weeks of immunotherapy treatment in Germany and 11 cycles of chemo — and also this year finished her degree in politics, philosophy and economics.
She is now back at her parents’ home in Barrowford, Lancs, while undergoing yet another bout of chemo. Thankfully, latest brain scans show no trace of tumours.
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‘Always wanted to meet her’
Laura says: “I try to have a positive mindset and use laughter. I want to show people there is hope and that you can beat the odds.”
After being diagnosed in October 2018 with terminal glioblastoma multiforme, Laura initially quit university and returned to live with dad Mark, 59, mum Nicola, 52, and sister Gracie, 20.
She says: “I saw a TV programme about the Heinz beans factory and thought it would be lovely if I could visit.
“Then Mum started posting on social media and people started getting in touch to invite me to places. My bucket list just grew and grew.”
Laura’s dream of meeting Michelle Obama, which she did at a London book launch, was made a reality by the Make A Wish Foundation.
Laura says: “We only had a few minutes with her but she held my hand and it was lovely. I met her again at the premiere of the film Yesterday and she remembered me. It was the best moment of my life.”
Laura’s dreams of joining the Royal Navy were crushed when she became ill but top brass arranged for her to take charge of HMS Charger.
Last year comedian Peter Kay performed two sell-out sets at Manchester’s O2 Apollo to raise money for Laura to have cell vaccination treatment in Germany, which costs £27,000 per injection.
Brain cancer kills more children and people under 40 than any other cancer — but gets only two per cent of cancer research funding.
In the UK, more than 12,000 people a year — 33 people every day — are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour and only 12 per cent live longer than five years.
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As well as raising money for her own treatment, Laura is an ambassador for the Brain Tumour Charity and her family have raised almost £32,000 for its research fund.
Additional reporting: ANDREW CHAMBERLAIN
HER LIST
DONE
- Visit Heinz Baked Beans factory in Wigan
- Visit Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls factory in Wigan
- Meet Michelle Obama
- Photo with Bowelbabe Deborah James
- Have a pub lunch with Peter Kay and appear on stage with him
- Go fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse
- Meet BBC newsreader Fiona Bruce
- Be pictured with actor Gillian Anderson
- Play bass guitar on stage
- Chat on the phone with Sir Alex Ferguson
- Captain a battleship
- Learn to ride a motorbike
- Take part in a march – Manchester Pride
- Ride pillion on a superbike at 158mph on one wheel with Ron Haslam
- Drive a tank
- Go sailing on the west coast of Scotland
- Visit Blackpool airport and use the fire truck hose
- Go horse riding
- Fly in a private jet
- Drive a Grizzly monster truck
- Operate a long-reach half-track digger
- Drive a 650-ton crane
- Drive a bus
- Drive a Tube train
- Do riot training with Greater Manchester police
- Drive an HGV
- Fly over the equator
- Video chat with Malala Yousafzai
- Haircut in a top salon
- See Fleabag in the West End
- Have a chat with musician Johnny Marr and have him sing a song for her
- Fly to New York to watch Saturday Night Live
- Carry the Commonwealth Games baton
- Walk the red carpet at a Bond film.
- Jump out of a plane at 15,000ft
- Sit in a Red Arrows jet
- Make a knife in a blacksmith’s shop
- Create a plasticine model at Aardman Animation
- Be pictured with Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park
- Present the weather on BBC TV
- Watch England win Euro 2022 at Wembley
TO DO
- Take part in the Great North Run
- Walk on hot coals
- Demolish a building
- Visit the White House and Capitol Building
- Fly a plane
- Visit the opera
- Go zorbing (and not have a panic attack)
- Go paintballing
- Experience zero gravity (ideally in space)
- Meet Sandra Bullock
