Kate Winslet attends funeral of mother who refused cancer treatment to save her unborn child

Kate Winslet attended the funeral of Gemma Nuttall with hundreds of mourners after she lost the battle to cancer on October 14, 2018, family and friends wore blue and pink to the cemetery to celebrate her life.

Gemma Nuttall got diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 16 weeks pregnant with daughter Penelope in 2014, however, to receive the treatment she had to abort, but she decided to delay treatment until after the birth of her child.

Months of intense chemotherapy followed the birth of Penelope and in 2017 Gemma got told she was in remission but cancer returned. Kate Winslet first crossed paths with Gemma after Kate’s mother had been given a very bad prognosis after a four year battle with liver cancer.

While looking for a treatment that might work she came across a petition from someone on behalf of Gemma campaigning to have immunotherapy on the NHS.

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Gemma and Kate became friends, with Winslet being a source of strength, visiting her during the last few months. Kate released a statement shortly after her death and said:

“My heart is solely with Helen, Penelope and all of the family at this tragically sad time. Gemma was such a beacon of strength and fought this battle so incredibly hard, with grace and dignity throughout.”

The family formed the Gemma Rose Foundation in order to help others going through similar pain, the charity’s aim is to fund, through hospices, specially dedicated counselors in support of young families affected by cancer, as Gemma’s daughter, Penelope had been during her illness. The charity’s aim was Gemma’s specific request.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet also helped raise funds by auctioning off three ‘Jack and Rose’ date nights. The family raised £300,000 for her immunotherapy in Germany.

Gemma’s cancer was persistent, and as her pregnancy progressed, so did her tumor. When she was 36 weeks pregnant in March 2014 the doctors decided to perform a cesarean and cut out the tumor at the same time.

The doctors kept her awake during the procedure so Gemma could see her little daughter before they put her under to remove the tumor. During April 2016 she got diagnosed with both cancer of the brain and lung after receiving immunotherapy she went into remission.

After being admitted to the hospital in mid-2018 the doctors discovered cancer had spread to her spine, and two months later returned to her brain and lungs again as well.

Gemma leaves behind her daughter Penelope, 4, mum Helen and step-dad Graeme, her father David, and brother Andrew along with many friends.

Earlier this year singer Michael Bublé returned to stage after his 4-year-old son Noah’s 2 year battle with liver cancer. Micheal became very emotional as he thanked the crowd for their love and support throughout the difficult time.

Both he and his wife, Luisana Lopilato canceled all their work commitments after the liver cancer diagnoses of their son. Nearing the end of his first show back he brought little Noah on stage. The couple also has another son, 1-year-old Elias who was also present at the concert.