Tributes paid to Stenhousemuir mum after she loses her battle to cancer

Jolene Patrick was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer for a second time last year, just weeks after she gave birth to daughter Emmeline.

The 31-year-old sadly passed away on Saturday – on her little girl’s first birthday.

Last month Jolene had been told by doctors the cancer had spread further throughout her body and after three rounds of chemotherapy there was no more they could do for her giving her 12 weeks to live.

Her family and friends have been left devastated by their loss.

Her husband Alan said: “We returned home to Stenhousemuir to raise our child and live our happily ever after.

“Jolene was an honest, rational, loving, caring, loyal, devoted, strong and determined woman and her family, friends and work colleagues will miss her dearly.

“In her short life she touched so many people who all loved and adored her and her cat Alley.

“Jolene was family orientated, she loved her family so much.

“Her mum Arlene and brother Bryan and her nana who passed away last year.

“Jolene had so many good friends around who she also loved.

“Jolene enjoyed numerous holidays every year.

“We spent the best years of each other’s lives together. We are soul mates.

“Emmeline is the miracle and gift that was brought to me to keep me going without Jolene.

“Both of us were lost souls until we met each other and became one.

“Our wedding day in Cyprus and Emmeline being born, both were the best days of our lives.

“We were two halves of one person and she’s not here anymore and it’s just me and Emmeline.

“Part of me has a hole that will never be filled, she’s definitely left me her strength.

“Wee signs she’s left are nice to know she’s still here.

“We just miss her. Our beautiful daughter misses her mum.

“I am so proud to see the impact Jolene has had on so many people’s lives.

“How many people she cared for, she helped so many people out of dark places and to see how one person’s reach can go so far.

“We had great times and bad times.

“I struggled with the bad times but she continued to be strong and had more than enough strength for the two of us.

“She never gave up and faced everything head on and was a warrior to the very end.

“The short few weeks between Emmeline being born and being diagnosed the second time with cancer were the happiest we had ever been.

“We finally thought the bad times were behind us and the next chapter was our future.

“Little did we know the next chapter would be without her.”

Jolene, nee Shortt, was born and raised in Stenhousemuir, attending Carron Primary and Larbert High schools.

On leaving school she attended Forth Valley College and went on to achieve a masters degree in mental health from Stirling University.

She was a community mental health nurse.

She married husband Alan in Cyprus in October 2016.

She was diagnosed with a tumour in her breast the following September and underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

Following her treatment, which could have affected her fertility, Jolene was given the all clear and, much to her joy, went on to fall pregnant with ‘miracle’ baby Emmeline.

Then in October last year she was given the news the cancer had returned.

Following her second diagnosis, Jolene’s friend Julie McGregor set up a Justgiving page to try and help relieve the family’s financial worries.

The fundraising page, which has raised over £20,000 to date, is continuing to raise money for Alan and Emmeline’s future.

Alan added: “We have received overwhelming support from the Justgiving page.

“The help was to secure our home for me and Emmeline, Jolene never got the reassurance or peace of mind that we had secured the home for Emmeline’s future.”

Tributes to Jolene have been left by people donating to the page in recent days.

One donor said: “Jolene you’re now pain free but you will be so sorely missed by your friends and family.”

While another posted: “So heartbreaking. Such a lovely person.”

A third post read: “Jolene was a beautiful person and an exceptional nurse.”

The fundraising page is still open for donations,visit by clicking here