💔 “This may be my last update” – The gut-wrenching words from Tony Hudgell’s adoptive mum Paula after brutal surgery in her fight against spreading stage 4 cancer 💔

She’s the warrior who gave little Tony – the brave double-amputee hero who captured the nation’s heart – a loving home after unimaginable abuse. She fought for “Tony’s Law” to lock up child abusers longer, earned an OBE, and inspired millions.

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Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of double-amputee child abuse survivor Tony Hudgell, has shared a deeply emotional update following major life-saving surgery for her stage 4 bowel cancer. In a January 2026 social media post and interviews, the 58-year-old former nurse from West Malling, Kent, described the procedure as “the most brutal thing I have ever been through,” highlighting the intense pain, exhaustion, and fear she endured during recovery.

Hudgell underwent a 12-hour cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), along with a hernia repair. The operation addressed the spread of her cancer to the abdominal lining (peritoneum), where tumors had formed. She spent 12 days in hospital before returning home to her husband Mark, 61, and family. Pathology results from removed tissue brought some relief: the cancer appeared contained to a single nodule in the treated area, with no evidence of disease in other organs or tissues removed during the procedure.

The update comes amid a years-long battle that began with a bowel cancer diagnosis in February 2022. Hudgell first sought medical help in 2018 after experiencing persistent symptoms including diarrhea and constipation, which she says were dismissed by GPs as IBS or menopause-related issues on 14 separate occasions over four years. She eventually demanded a bowel cancer test, leading to the initial diagnosis. Early treatment included surgery and chemotherapy, after which she was declared cancer-free. However, the disease returned aggressively, spreading to her lungs and peritoneal cavity, resulting in a terminal stage 4 diagnosis announced in July 2025.

In October 2025 interviews, Hudgell spoke candidly about the emotional toll, revealing the moment it hit her that she might not live to see Tony grow up or attend milestones like his wedding. “It suddenly hit me that I won’t be at his wedding,” she told reporters. “It hurts so much that I won’t see him grow up or get married.” She has shielded Tony, now 11, from the full severity of her prognosis, noting that to him, survival is the norm after enduring his own traumatic start in life. “He doesn’t know I’m not going to survive this and nor do I want him to,” she said.

Tony Hudgell’s story first captured national attention in 2019 when, at age five, he set out to raise funds for Evelina London Children’s Hospital by walking 10km on prosthetic legs, inspired by Captain Tom Moore. Born Antony Smith, he suffered catastrophic abuse at six weeks old by his birth parents, Anthony Smith and Jody Simpson, resulting in multiple fractures, sepsis, organ failure, deafness in one ear, and the amputation of both legs below the knees at age three. His hip remains permanently dislocated. Adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell in 2016, Tony has thrived under their care, becoming a symbol of resilience.

Paula’s tireless advocacy following Tony’s ordeal led to significant legislative change. Her campaigning helped secure “Tony’s Law” in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which increased maximum prison sentences for those causing or allowing serious harm or death to a child. For her efforts, she received an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours. Tony himself became the youngest recipient of a British honour, awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to preventing child abuse, and later won a Pride of Britain award.

The family established the Tony Hudgell Foundation to support children affected by physical, emotional, or psychological abuse. Paula has continued her push for a national child cruelty register to prevent convicted abusers from working with children or fostering. Despite her illness, she has vowed to keep fighting, stating in 2025 that Tony gives her “the fire in my belly” to continue.

Her cancer journey has been marked by repeated setbacks. Initial optimism after 2022 treatment gave way to devastation when scans revealed metastatic spread. In July 2025, she announced the return publicly, describing it as a “huge shock” but committing to “the biggest fight of my life.” The recent surgery targeted peritoneal metastases, a common and aggressive complication of advanced bowel cancer. CRS/HIPEC is a specialized treatment involving removal of visible tumors followed by heated chemotherapy circulated in the abdomen to target microscopic disease. While potentially extending survival in select cases, it is highly invasive, with significant recovery challenges.

Hudgell has been open about the physical and emotional strain. “I won’t sugar-coat it,” she said post-surgery. “The pain, the exhaustion, the fear. There were moments I didn’t know how I would get through it.” She expressed relief at the pathology findings but remains cautious, awaiting a CT scan to assess lung nodules for possible future surgery or a return to chemotherapy if unstable.

The broader family impact has been profound. Hudgell has spoken of preparing her children as best she can, while prioritizing happy memories. The family has faced additional challenges, including Tony’s ongoing medical needs—prosthetic adjustments, hip surgeries, and pain management—and the parole releases of his birth parents in recent years, which Paula described as “deeply upsetting” and a “betrayal of justice.”

Public response to Hudgell’s updates has been overwhelmingly supportive, with many citing her and Tony’s shared strength as inspirational. Her story intersects with wider discussions on cancer misdiagnosis, late detection, and the need for prompt testing. Bowel cancer remains one of the UK’s most common cancers, with survival rates dropping sharply at stage 4.

As Hudgell recovers at home, the uncertainty persists. She continues to focus on family time and foundation work, even planning initiatives like taking children to Lapland for Christmas through the charity. Whether further treatment options emerge or the disease progresses remains unclear, but her resolve echoes the determination that defined her advocacy and her role as Tony’s mother.

The Hudgell family’s journey—from rescuing a severely injured infant to legislative victory and now this personal health crisis—illustrates profound themes of love, perseverance, and vulnerability. Paula Hudgell’s latest message, delivered with raw honesty, serves as both a personal plea and a reminder of life’s fragility, even for those who have already overcome extraordinary odds.