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An Edinburgh woman has opened up on her dad’s devastating cancer battle after he passed away last year.
Claire Baillie, 25, lost her dad, Scott Baillie, in September 2024 after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015.
Before passing away at 55-years-old, Scott focused on living a healthy and full life and made sure to pass the same message on to his kids.
He underwent chemotherapy at the Western General Hospital but the cancer soon spread to his liver and lungs. The diagnosis became terminal in 2021.
His body couldn’t handle the chemotherapy or fight the infections so he was told about palliative care. Scott was advised he only had weeks to live in January 2024 but lasted eight more months.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Claire said the situation was a “nightmare for everyone”, but has continued to remember him through various active races and challenges.
She added: “Last year when my dad passed away, it’s something that was unimaginable for everyone. When he was diagnosed, he was very young.
“It was treated but it returned the next year. After a while it spread to his liver and lungs. . My dad was a very private man – very family orientated and very fun so he just wanted to live a normal life.
“In 2021, that’s when it became terminal and reached stage 4. In January 2024, I got a call that he had an infection and had just been put into hospital.
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“His body couldn’t take the chemo and it couldn’t find the infections. He was treated and advised to come off chemo and we were told about palliative care – that was a nightmare for everyone, we didn’t know what was going on.
“We were all very close. My two brothers were 16 and 18 at the time so they were a lot younger than me.
“I feel so sad for them because my dad got to see me graduate and leave school etc so I am so sad my brothers won’t have that time and I want to make sure other families do get those experiences.”
Now in honour of her late dad, Claire will be hiking 25km just one day before Scott’s birthday alongside her partner. Setting off on September 6.
The hike will mark his 56th birthday, and the pair will be raising funds for The Bowelbabe Fund and Cancer Research UK, two organisations that support life-saving research and provide vital care for those affected by cancer.
As written in her fundraiser, Claire said: “This past year has been one of deep grief and reflection. Losing our dad so young, me in my early 20s, and my two brothers still in their teens, has been incredibly hard.
“What makes this time even more emotional for the family is that his death anniversary falls just one day before his birthday, which is a bittersweet reminder of both our loss and love for him.
“But I want to turn this day into a celebration of his life, his strength, and his legacy.
“Any donation, whether its big or small, will help fund essential medical, emotional and practical support for those living with Bowel Cancer. This could mean more time, more hope, and more memories for families facing the same fight we had.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
