Kate Winslet and Leo Di Caprio help new mother raise money for crucial cancer treatment

This is amazing 

Chelsea Ritschel
in New York
Sunday 04 February 2018 16:57 GMT
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Kate Winslet speaks to woman who she helped get cancer treatment

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A woman from Britain has been given a second chance at life by Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio - after she was told she would die by delaying cancer treatment.

Gemma Nuttall, from Lancashire, was newly pregnant when doctors diagnosed her with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer.

But rather than accept the drugs that could potentially save her life, Gemma declined treatment, as it would have terminated her pregnancy.

She said of her choice: “She saved my life, she was the reason my cancer had been discovered. I felt I had to repay the favour.”

Gemma eventually gave birth to her baby daughter Penelope at 26 weeks, after doctors informed her the cancer had spread to her cervix - but soon after, NHS doctors told Gemma it was too late to save her own life.

At just 29-years-old, the new mum was given only six to nine months to live and placed on palliative care.

But rather than accept the diagnosis, Ms Nuttall and her mother researched their options - and after hearing of a “wonder clinic” in Germany where Gemma could undergo immunotherapy treatment, the pair started a fundraiser to raise the £300,000 needed for treatment.

In a surprising twist of fortune, the cost of Ms Nuttall's treatment was covered by Kate Winslet and Leo Di Caprio, after Kate heard about the fundraiser.

In order to raise the money, the two stars auctioned off dates with their Titanic sweethearts, Jack and Rose.

And after finishing her final round of treatment five months ago, Gemma has officially been declared cancer-free - and she credits Kate with saving her life.

Kate and Leo stepped in to help save this new mum's life
Kate and Leo stepped in to help save this new mum's life

Gemma told the Daily Mirror: “I can't thank Kate enough. Without her donations, and the public's, my story would be very different. We thought it was a wind-up, but then she called and I realised she was serious.

“I told her I could never thank her enough and she told me not to be daft. She said she had read about my story online, that she had three kids of her own and had thought about what she would be like in that position,” Gemma continued.

And for her part in saving a life, Kate Winslet received an Actors Inspiration Award from the Screen Actors Guild and told an awards' ceremony: “The greatest privilege has been learning how to use my voice to help others. Standing up for individuals who don't have the means to stand up for themselves.”

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