Blogger who chronicled her terminal cancer dies

A CHARITY worker who inspired thousands of people from across the world by blogging about living with a terminal illness has died.

Louise Page, a former head of marketing for the Fringe Festival, passed away on Sunday from a rare form of bone cancer, which she was told had become incurable in December.

After being given the diagnosis, she set up a blog, which chronicled her final months with inspirational posts. The online diary, called Lou’s Story, has so far received 100,000 unique visits and won praise for its humour and ­honesty.

She also told her story in a BBC documentary, set to be broadcast next month, as part of a project with world-famous photographer Rankin.

Louise’s heartbroken family and friends are still coming to terms with her death, but have taken comfort from the legacy left by the 42-year-old, whose poignant words have brought comfort to people as far away as Nepal, the United States and Nigeria.

Her husband, Alan Ainsley, 46, said: “She took great strength from the way the blog was received and how it helped other people. I am hoping that people will continue to draw strength from what she wrote. Even on Saturday I was still reading messages out to her.”

Louise and Alan, a creative director with the Leith Agency, have been together for a decade and married two-and-a-half years ago. Alan added: “We’ve made the most of the last few years – they’ve been fantastic. She was my best friend and the most inspirational person I ever met. She was the strongest, most courageous woman who smiled at adversity.

“She told she wanted me to live with enduring, regret-free true happiness, and while I feel devastated at the moment, I’ll draw strength from what she said. I’ve been the luckiest lad in the world for what she gave to me and I’ve got to be thankful for that.”

After leaving her job with the Fringe, Louise, who lived in Leith, worked for charity The Thistle Foundation, which supported her throughout her illness. She also received care at the Western General Hospital.

Her death came days after she fulfilled her ambition to attend the launch of the Rankin photography exhibition, called Alive: In the Face of Death, in Liverpool on Thursday.

Rankin described a picture he took of Louise as one of his “favourite photos ever”.

The Glasgow-born photographer said: “She was brave, honest, passionate, funny and eloquent. An all-round lovely human being, which the world should have known for longer. Her infectious love for life reminded us all to live our own lives to the fullest.”