A TERMINALLY-ILL mum was thrown a surprise 30th birthday party four months early - because she was losing her battle with cancer.
Cheryl Calver's friends and family were determined to make the most of the rest of her life after she was told she would not live to see her 30th birthday.
The 29-year-old thought she was going for a family meal when beauticians turned up to give her a surprise makeover at home before she was whisked away in a white stretch limo.
The former nursery worker was set to turn 30 in July - but her friends and family threw the surprise birthday bash at the end of March over fears she might not make it to the summer.
She was pictured smiling in her wheelchair and posing with props including a "29ish" birthday sign at the Stumble Inn pub in Sittingbourne, just four days before she died at her home in Murston, Kent.
Childhood friend Lianne Dmytruk, who has known Cheryl for 20 years, said: "It was one of her things she had on her bucket list that she wanted to have a 30th birthday party.
"It was something we were looking to do in the summer because she was having chemotherapy and she hoped it would extend her life so we could have a summer of memories.
"But sadly she got a chest infection and she was too poorly to continue with therapy."
The 30-year-old, who went to school with Cheryl, added: "We were told in March it was going to be a matter of weeks - none of us wanted to believe it was true but we saw how poorly she was."
"It was a bit of a mad rush really but we wanted to get everything organised and have the party early to make sure she got to tick it off her list."
Cheryl was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015 and received surgery and treatment before going into remission the following year.
But in 2017 her cancer returned and by March this year, she was told by doctors the disease had spread to her vital organs and she died at home on April 3.
On New Year's Day, she created a wish list with her partner Lee Macey, her three children and four stepchildren, which included going to more concerts, milkshake nights, taking a ninja course and going to Wimbledon tennis.
Having a birthday party at 30 was also on the list which Cheryl feared she would never tick off when she was told by doctors she had just weeks to live in early March.
The mum-of-three was told shortly after to plan for a family meal at the end of March and was taken on a shopping spree to buy a new dress with best friend Lianne.
Her family secretly arranged for beautician Louise Miller and hairdresser Alisha Kemp to give her a makeover at her house the morning of her surprise party before a white stretch limo pulled up outside.
Wearing her new dress, Cheryl toured in the limo with her children Daisy Mallion, nine, and Elliott Mallion, six, her partner Lee and their two-year-old daughter Penelope Macey.
They were met by Cheryl's mum at the Stumble Inn who took her round the back to the pub garden where she was surprised by friends and family with streamers and party poppers.
Lianne said: "As soon as she came in, she was so overwhelmed - she just held onto Lee and said 'thank you' and cuddled into him.
"A queue formed the whole length of the garden and everybody went one by one to say hello and hugged and kissed her.
"It was like a big train of people wanting to see the Queen, it really was emotional.
"We had a photographer too who took photos of the whole thing and she had a beautiful pink drop cake with swirly letters on it.
"I got her mum to meet her outside the pub and she still didn't realise anything was going on.
"I think she thought that's where they were going to have their meal.
"A couple of days before, she had not really got out of bed and I was worried she was not going to make it.
"But once she had her hair and make up done, she really perked up.
"She looked absolutely gorgeous, it was amazing.
"She used to have long, blonde hair but she was always wearing a wig when she lost her hair.
"But Alisa did her hair so nice, she didn't need the wig for the party."
Four days after her early birthday celebrations, Cheryl passed away at home.
Lianne said: "After the party, she didn't get out of bed - it was just so fast how quickly she deteriorated.
"Even thought we were told it would be a matter of weeks, we were all clinging onto some hope that they were wrong.
"But she held on because she knew she was doing something special on the Saturday when we did the party, then it was a matter of four days and she passed away.
"After the party, the following day was Mother's Day and the children were all round her bed.
"They are an amazing family, they have been through so much and it has not been easy for anyone."
Cheryl's funeral will take place on April 29, three days after she would have celebrated her fifth year anniversary with boyfriend Lee Masey.
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