A Kent filmmaker has created a video tribute to her friend’s life to fulfil her dying wish.
Michelle Gilbert was recently given just months to live in January, after treatment for a stage-four brain tumour stopped working.
Her former colleague, Katherine Shannon, filmed the 55-year-old’s celebration of life ceremony at Whitstable Castle and carried out interviews with those close to her.
The short movie, titled Dying to Meet You, premiered at Olby’s in Margate on June 25.
Ms Shannon told KentOnline: “Michelle approached me after her diagnosis and said let’s make a film about me and who I was.
“I made it into a documentary about what she was like with words from her own family.
“She loved it.
“It’s had an amazingly positive reaction.
“Michelle couldn’t attend the premiere because she was in the hospital, but everyone who saw it just wanted to meet her.”
Her friend, who worked as a ‘groove’ dancing instructor, was diagnosed after experiencing a series of severe headaches, sudden vomiting and a rash on her stomach.
At the beginning of the year, the Margate resident was placed on palliative care after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment were ineffective.
The filmmaker explained: “It was only a couple of years ago she had her diagnosis, and 10 days later she was having brain surgery.
“Now it’s grown back. As much as she is a fighter, this is a battle she can’t win.
“She can no longer write text messages and communicates with me via voicenotes.
“She’s very supportive of the film and hopeful that the more people who see it, the more people can learn about brain tumours and make a difference to those it impacts.”
The dedication to her life – which took two months to edit – aims to raise awareness of the disease.
Michelle was diagnosed with glioblastoma – an aggressive form of brain tumour.
It is the same condition which sadly took the life of Herne Bay mum Nicky Stonham, whose only symptom was a headache.
Her husband, Chris, bravely spoke to KentOnline about the impact on him and his family.
Speaking on her plight to raise awareness, Ms Shannon said: “The film aims to show people that there can be hope when you’re faced with something devastating, such as a brain tumour diagnosis.
“This was my way of supporting Michelle and telling her story, which in turn could help other people going through the same thing.
“It has a very positive message because she’s a very positive person.
“There is so much love for her.”
Katherine is now crowdfunding to showcase the tribute piece at film festivals across the globe.
Just under 13% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 54% across all cancers.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Michelle’s story is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age.
“Katherine has channelled her creative skills into raising awareness of the disease, helping to highlight that just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
“We hope the film can shine a light on brain tumours and drive change in increasing research investment into brain tumours.”
Dying to Meet You is almost 13 minuites long, and can be seen at local film festivals, including Ramsgate, Margate and Folkestone.
