Queensland mother-of-two Sally Tape was someone who “lit up the room”.
An adventurous spirit, she lived for her boys and her husband, David Tape.
“Her world just revolved around her family,” Tape’s sister-in-law Jess Witheridge told 7NEWS.com.au.
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Tape’s world came crashing down on her 40th birthday in October 2023, when she learned she had cervical cancer.
By February this year, the family received the dreaded news she only had a short time left.
“It was a complete shock to everyone,” Witheridge said.
“She was really optimistic she could beat it, but sadly they told her she couldn’t, and they’d done everything they could.”
Despite holding on to hope, Tape died on February 18 — just one day before her two-year wedding anniversary.
What should have been a time of celebrating a new chapter for the family has been marred by sorrow, as David navigates his late wife’s funeral arrangements while taking care of Tape’s two sons.
The boys, aged 12 and 13, also lost their father five years ago.
“My brother (David Tape — the boy’s stepfather) is doing the best he can to keep everything normal for them to try to make sure they don’t have to suffer, but obviously, they’re all going through it,” Witheridge said.
“It’s hitting everyone who is close to her really hard.
“It breaks my heart.”
Tape and her husband were a perfect match, who found each other at the “right time”.
“She was a lovely person,” Witheridge said.
“They obviously both have gone through things in life, and they found each other, and it moved quite fast, but they knew it was the right time for the right person.”
Tape spent her final days surrounded by that deep love.
“Everyone who was near and dear to her — her mum, her boys, my brother,” Witheridge said.
Despite grieving herself, Witheridge’s concern is with the welfare of her brother and Tape’s boys.
The family has launched a fundraiser to help support David, and Tape’s sons.
“I know her biggest fear would have been leaving those boys, and I just want to make sure that they’re OK,” she said.
“My brother is going to make sure that happens, but I just want to make sure that all three of them won’t have to worry for a bit.”
‘Get checked’
Tape had complained of experiencing some pain, but no one imagined it was cancer, Witheridge said.
It’s estimated more than 900 people were diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, according to the Cancer Council.
While the incidence of the cancer has significantly decreased since the national cervical screening program was introduced in 1991 and a national Human Papilloma Virus vaccine program in 2007, Witheridge is calling for more awareness.
“You don’t think about it because you’re always like, ‘It would never happen to me’,” she said.
Experts say the only way to tell if there are abnormal cells that may develop into cancer is via a cervical screening test.
Witheridge hopes Tape’s death will encourage others to complete the necessary screening.
“Make sure you are up-to-date on your pap smears,” she said.
“Make sure if you notice any changes, even if it’s little, to just go get checked because if someone can pick it up early enough, hopefully they have a better chance.”
