11:03am Tuesday 7th October 2008
By Ruth Lumley
Sandra Carey Boggans has sadly lost her four-year battle against cancer.
The mother-of-two died peacefully with her family at her bedside at 8.35pm on Sunday.
Sandra, 44, of The Green, Southwick, was admitted to St Barnabas Hospice in Worthing shortly after her birthday on August 25, as her health began to deteriorate.
Although she had been bed bound for the past few weeks she was still laughing and joking with family and friends.
Mavis Wise, Sandra's mother, said: "We are all devastated but we would like to say a big thank you to everyone for all their support. The boys are coping remarkably well.
"Tom called us at 6am on Sunday and me and my partner David and Sandra's dad and his wife were over there all day holding her hand. She did not come to all day.
"She battled for so long and helped so many other people while she was ill. It is amazing she managed to go on for as long as she did. It was down to sheer will power.
"We have received so much support from so many people, the staff at St Barnabas have been wonderful and The Argus and it's readers have been fantastic. Sandra received so many lovely emails from people."
Sandra's breast cancer was diagnosed in 2004. The former Adur councillor and foster carer thought she had beaten the disease but after having her womb and ovaries removed in 2005, tests showed the cancer had spread and there was nothing more the doctors could do for her.
She was given just two months to live at a time so she and Tom, who had been engaged for two years, decided to get married straight away.
Tom and Sandra's two sons, Jacob, 13 and Lewis, ten, also brought Christmas forward.
Sandra made sure she made the most of the time she had left and also spent hours promoting and raising money for cancer charities.
In June, she helped to open the Cancer Research UK Race For Life in Stanmer Park, Brighton.
A memorial service will be held for Sandra at St Michael's Church, Church Lane, Southwick, on Wednesday October 15 at 2pm, and is being taken by curate Christina Bennett, who knew Sandra well. The service will be followed by a private cremation.
Anyone wishing to send a message to the family can email Tom at thomas.boggans10@ntlworld.com.
Leave your tributes to Sandra below.
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