Conwy mother creates picture book for families dealing with cancer

Simone Baldwin, a former school teacher who lives in Llandudno Junction, is the author of ‘Mummy has a lump’, which helps young children understand when a parent is diagnosed with cancer or other similar tumour, also aiming to improve how parents communicate this to their children.

The book is based on Simone’s own experience telling her then six-year old son Sam about her brain tumour diagnosis.

“I was diagnosed with a brain tumour when my son was six and I had to decide, do I tell him?,” said Simone.

“I had two step boys who were older, so it was easier to explain to them – they can understand.

Simone's own experiences have shaped the book. (Image: public)

“But to a six-year-old, I didn’t want to knock a great big hole in his world, but at the same time, he lives in the same house, he’s not daft, he’s going to notice.

“Children notice that something’s different or something’s wrong.”

Simone was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumour in 2017, shortly after turning 40. Having had several operations and subsequent procedures to stabilise and reduce the tumour’s size, her condition is currently stable.

Ms Baldwin, who was a teacher for 22 years and worked at Ysgol Llandrillo yn Rhos in Rhos-on-Sea until recently, said her own difficulties finding guidance or help to talk to her son about her diagnosis is what motivated her to write the book for others in that position.

She said: “I wanted to make sure for my son he was kept as informed as I felt appropriate at that time.

“I didn’t tell him absolutely everything, but I certainly wanted to make sure he was aware what was going on and why - why I might be going away for appointments or why I might be staying in hospital, why people might be upset around me.

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“There is lots of support for people when they’re diagnosed – I was offered a chance to talk to someone, but nothing for my little one and no help in telling the little one.

“I don’t know if it’s an area that no one wants to have to do, or because it is so delicate.

“I did look for something that would help me choose the right words, or how to tell him without it sounding too scary, or pictures – I wanted pictures to not be too clinical or intimidating.

“I really, really struggled.”

It took some years before Ms Baldwin decided to take the leap and go into writing, teaming up with North Wales-based illustrator Caroline Eames Hughes to create the picture book.

Simone continued: “A few years after, I started to think about ‘what did I need?’ and ‘what would I have wanted at that time?’

“Without thinking, you say ‘ok, I’ve got an appointment at the hospital, I’m going to go for a scan’.

Simone Baldwin was diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago. (Image: simone baldwin)

“Well, for a young child, who doesn’t understand or hasn’t had that experience – ‘what’s that, is it going to hurt you, will you come back’.

“I just wanted something that parents can use just to start those conversations.”

The book is ‘quite broad’ in its scope, with Simone understanding that everyone deals with these situations differently, despite their delicate nature.

The hand-painted watercolour illustrations by Ms Hughes help to give an impression of what parents may be going through, without being overly cutting or brutal, while the second half of the book is aimed at parents, with Simone briefly describing her own experiences.

The book will be available from tomorrow (September 14), and Ms Baldwin has donated copies to libraries, schools and charities in the area to give as many people free access to it.

The book will be available to borrow through Conwy libraries, and to buy as a paperback at Amazon.co.uk, by request through local bookshops as well as the WH Smith and Waterstones websites (ISBN: 978-1-83952-549-0).

To find out more about Ms Baldwin and her work, click here.

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