Sunshine Coast mother of three Stevie Smith given two years to live with liver cancer

A beautiful Queensland mother of three, who has been given two years to live, plans to marry the love of her life before travelling Australia in a caravan to create precious moments for her children to remember her by.

Stevie Smith with her family. Picture - Hannah Louise Photography.

After watching her grandparents horrifically wither away in hospital as a child, this brave Queensland mother of three is determined to be remembered by her children for so much more than her cancer’s brutal death sentence.

Stevie Smith, 35, thought the worst was behind her when she had a 1.7kg cancerous tumour removed in October last year and underwent six months of gruelling chemotherapy for bowel cancer on the Sunshine Coast.

She was sitting in the doctor's office in April, holding her finance’s hands, when the final blow was dealt.

“He told me the cancer cells had spread. I now had stage four, incurable, liver cancer,” Ms Smith said.

“I was given two to three years to live.”

In that moment, the love of her life, father of her children, and best friend of 11 years broke down before her.

Stevie Smith and Joel Hayward with their children Kade (7), Zarli (4), and Ryliy (10). . Picture - Hannah Louise Photography.

“He was sobbing like I’d never seen before,” Ms Smith said.

“It was horrible. We were in disbelief and shock.

“We thought it was going to be good news...that I was cancer free.”

But deep down, crawling beneath her skin, Ms Smith knew she wasn’t completely recovered.

“I had these symptoms where I was itchy all the time and nauseous most nights. I googled my symptoms and liver cancer did come up,” she admitted.

“But I had no idea how bad it was.

Stevie Smith with her children. Picture - contributed.

“I have 10 cancerous spots on my liver and the cancer is behind my belly button.

“I’m not eligible for liver transplant surgery. All they can offer me is palliative chemotherapy.”

Ms Smith said she and her fiance, Joel Hayward, were still processing the news.

“Most days I actually forget I’m dying,” she laughed.

“Having three kids and being busy living day to day is good for that.

“But then I have moments that are special where the kids do something cute or amazing and it just hits me that I won’t always be here with them.”

Positivity, hope, and family time has carried her through those dark moments.

Stevie Smith with her fiance Joel Hayward. Picture - contributed.

“It’s completely changed my outlook on life. I’ve always loved life and say yes to everything but now I just want to do it all and really be there,” Ms Smith said.

“I want to get better. I know the doctors say I won’t...but holding onto that hope is getting me through.

“I plan on fitting in as much in as I can.”

First there will be a wedding. The bride to be is busy planning and couldn’t be more excited for their big day.

“Joel is desperate to get married and I’m excited to feel like a bride even if it’s not the way we wanted it to happen,” Ms Smith said.

“We’re going to have our kids and family and friends there. It’s going to be a big party and celebration of our life and love.

“Then we’re taking off to travel around Australia in a caravan.”

Stevie Smith with her family. Picture - contributed.

The couple are seasoned travellers and Ms Smith has been busy planning her final adventure.

“Travel is important to me and it's a message I want to pass on to my kids,” she said.

“It’s going to be lots of ocean swims, surfing with my 10-year-old, family board games, reading to the kids, hiking as a family, and just spending time together adventuring.

“I want to take a really relaxed approach to their learning on the road. I want it to be fun not stressful.”

Family and friends have already planned to meet up with them at various stops along the way.

Stevie Smith with her children. Picture - Hannah Louise Photography.

“I want to spend a lot of quality time with the people I love making the most of this beautiful life,” Ms Smith said.

“The kids know I’m sick but not that I’m dying or the full extent of it. I don’t plan to tell them until the end.

“I don’t want to put that stress on them. I want them to remember me as happy and adventurous and fun and well.”

Ms Smith dreams of her grown up children one day being able to reach back into an extensive memory bank of happy times with her.

“I want them to have good memories with me of us on the road,” she said.

“I want my kids to remember that I was always here and that I was fun and that I loved them.

“It’s terrifying thinking about not being able to be there for my kids. It’s so upsetting I can’t wrap my head around it. It doesn’t feel real that I’ve lost that future of growing old with Joel and the kids.”

Stevie Smith is excited to marry Joel Hayward. Picture - Hannah Louise Photography.

While she’s always smiling and laughing with her family, Ms Smith confessed she’s deeply scared of what’s to come.

“Some days I’m terrified of death,” she said.

“Then some days I’m accepting.

“My only personal experience with cancer was my grandparents dying and it was horrific. I’m so scared of going through that and of my kids remembering me that way.

“Right now I’m not even well enough for the palliative chemotherapy.

“I’m so grateful for this life and my kids and Joel. He has been incredibly supportive and amazing. He’s trying everything and researching everything and I couldn’t do it without him.

Stevie Smith with her fiance Joel Hayward. Picture - contributed.

“I love him so much.”

Forever gracious, Ms Smith shared her closing thoughts on life and death.

“Don’t ever take your health for granted,” she said.

“I wish I could have my old life back. I should be enjoying this time with my kids. Life can be very unfair and cruel but you can’t focus on that.

“You’ve got to make the most of every moment. Life is precious and beautiful too.

“I feel like I’ve done that and I’ve lived a life I love. But there’s just never enough time and it always comes to an end.”

You can support Ms Smith here.