Mum-of-three Sarah Johnson is creating scrapbooks for her kids, for a devastating reason

The Largs Bay mum-of-three has a bigger reason than most for putting together this keepsake for her family.

Sarah Johnson with sons Zane Johnson, Alec Nicol, 7, Elijah Nicol, 17 months and partner Jason Nicol, 43. Sarah Johnson was given a year to live after doctors found a huge tumour in her liver. Picture: Supplied by family

Largs North mum-of-three Sarah Johnson has created scrapbooks for each of her children – but her reason for doing so is devastating.

Diagnosed with terminal cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer, Ms Johnson was told she had a year to live just months after she gave birth to her third son.

Since then she’s been creating scrapbooks and memory boxes for her children to remember her by.

Her partner of 20 years, Jason Nicol, said, “what hurts Sarah a lot is little Elijah … him not remembering her”.

Ms Johnson said her priority was making memories with her children, 17-month-old Elijah Nicol, seven-year-old Alec Nicol and 24-year-old Zane Johnson.

“You can give them materialistic things, but they’re not going to remember those things, they’re going to remember doing things with each other,” she said.

“Even just going to the playground and having moments.”

Sarah Johnson with son Alec who is seven. Picture: Supplied by family

Sarah with her 17-month-old son Elijah. Picture: Supplied by family

Sarah Johnson was given a year to live after doctors found a huge tumour in her liver. Picture: Supplied by family

When Ms Johnson began experiencing abdominal pain after Elijah’s birth in August 2022, she believed she had gallstones.

“I eventually went to the doctors and they did an ultrasound,” the 41-year-old told The Advertiser.

“Things got funny in the ultrasound place, everyone was being really secretive … they said to me ‘we need to do a CAT scan on you right now’.”

Weeks later, a scan revealed “a significantly large” tumour on the mother’s liver and she began treatment straight away.

Sarah Johnson with son Alec Nicol, 7, was given a year to live after doctors found a huge tumour in her liver. Picture: Supplied by family

Sarah Johnson, pictured with Isabella Verrilli, Zane Johnson, Alec Nicol and Elijah Nicol. Picture: Supplied by family

Sarah, pictured here with her son Alec, 7, is creating scrapbooks and memory boxes for her children to remember her by. Picture: Supplied by family

Sarah is particularly hurt that her youngest child Elijah might not remember her. Picture Supplied by family

Unfortunately transplant is not an option for Ms Johnson, whose tumour is too large to qualify.

“It’s been devastating,” she said.

However, immunotherapy is currently keeping the cancer from growing or spreading giving hope to the family.

The diagnosis came in April 2023, months after the birth of “little miracle” Elijah.

Mr Nicol said “he (Elijah) came a month early”.

“Sarah’s water broke, the placenta stopped working, we now know it’s obviously the disease, we’re lucky he’s here with us today,” the 43-year-old said.

Ms Johnson, who worked in hospitality prior to the birth of Elijah, planned to take a year of parental leave after his birth.

Now as Sarah can no longer work, the lack of income is taking a toll on the family whose goal is to focus on creating memories.

Ms Johnson’s cousin Michael Flanagan has set up an GoFundMe page to help his family.

“It’s been quite a humbling experience … how generous people have been,” Mr Nicol said.

If you’d like to donate to Sarah and her family, you can here.

Originally published as Mum-of-three Sarah Johnson is creating scrapbooks for her kids, for a devastating reason