Positive Mum of the Year 2009, Sarah Hill

Sarah Hill, 33, from Tamworth, Staffordshire been named Tesco magazine's 'Positive Mum of the Year 2009'

Sarah was faced with every mother's worst nightmare when her daughter, Abi, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. But despite her heartbreak, Sarah has remained positive for the sake of her children, and has drawn on her experiences to help other families.

In September 2007 Sarah Hill's world was turned upside down when her seven-year-old daughter Abi was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She was told doctors would need to operate on her little girl immediately.

Sarah was determined to stay strong for Abi and her five-year-old son Tom. Surgeons removed the tumour, which the family named 'Larry the lump', and in October 2007 Abi began a course of radiotherapy, followed by chemotherapy. She's also had countless blood transfusions and is taking part in a clinical drug trial to try and improve her chances of survival.

Positive attitude

Throughout Abi's illness Sarah has tried to make life as normal as possible for all of her children, including the latest addition to the family, six-month-old son Ted. She may not know what the future holds for Abi, but Sarah makes every day as special as she can.

And rather than wallow in self-pity, Sarah, together with a friend, has set up a local support group, Poppy Fields Special Mummies and Daddies, for parents who also have children with life-threatening illnesses.

Not only does Sarah provide the group with information on things such as entitlement to benefits or how to help a sick child to eat, she also uses her experiences to help others, providing a shoulder to cry on.

As one of the group wrote, 'I wish I'd met people like you when my child was first diagnosed. You need to talk to someone who understands and, with the best will in the world, they rarely can unless they go through it themselves. You feel so alone, as if your world has been blown apart.'

Help for others

Sarah also runs an independent postural care training company, working tirelessly with children with disabilities. This strong-minded mum lobbies on behalf of families to get them much-needed services to which they're entitled. And she teaches them how the health system works, enabling them to make informed choices.

Though it's her livelihood, Sarah refuses to turn away anybody in need. She runs a free email support group, the UK Postural Group Care Network. And she has selflessly transformed the lives of mums like Debbie Heffernan, whose son James, 21, has cerebral palsy, impaired vision and is profoundly deaf. Debbie says, 'Sarah is amazing. She's given me the confidence as a mum to know what's best for James. I can't thank her enough.'

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Sarah Hill – Tesco magazine's Positive Mum of the Year 2009

Sarah Hill – Tesco magazine's Positive Mum of the Year 2009

Sarah is amazing. She's given me the confidence as a mum to know what's best for James.
I can't thank
her enough.

Debbie Heffernan, mother of cerebral palsy sufferer

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