Mel Greig: I won’t let her death be in vain

My beautiful friend Tarsh Gowans died in August this year at the age of 37, a loving wife to Adam and a mother of two small children Goldie, 1 and Zara, 3. Can you even fathom that? Those children being left without a mother because the monster that ruins lives all over the world has taken another sweet life.

In September last year, Tarsh was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and secondary spots on her liver. After starting chemo and adopting a full vegan and alkaline diet, things were looking up with really positive results. The doctors were astounded with her progress and in May this year, there were no traces of her tumours in her breasts or liver.

The girls even got together and had a lunch to celebrate. Tarsh has the most amazing group of girlfriends and it’s a true testament to who she is . . . she radiated love, happiness and positivity. Such a kind and gentle soul. Tarsh even messaged me a few months ago checking in to see how I was . . . even through her own pain, she thought of others.

In June she started to get bad headaches and a scan revealed that she had spots on her brain. The cancer had spread to her brain.

Tarsh didn’t complain once, she was strong and she remained positive. Her husband Adam had been told that the prognosis could be terminal, the doctors couldn’t determine if she had five hours or five days to live.

On August 24th this year Tarsh lost her battle with cancer, she turned that 5hrs or 5 days into 8 weeks. How could life be so cruel? To take away a mother and a wife, a best friend to so many, a person that made the lives of others so much better just by being in her presence.

Today, Sunday, November 18 is ‘Walk for Cancer’ around Australia. People will walk to raise awareness and funds for the monster that is cancer. To everyone that has lost someone to cancer, I want to send you so much love and I hope you know you’re doing something special by keeping their spirit and memories alive.

To Adam, Zara and Goldie, Tarsh was so loved and she will always be with you and us. To everyone reading this, please help us continue the legacy of Natasha ‘Tarsh’ Gowan’s one of the most incredible people you would ever meet . . . Please live every day with a smile on your face, be positive, be happy and love life because you are incredibly lucky to have one.

Tarsh is one of the reasons I quit my job and chose to live my life, because it is too short, and I would rather be surrounded by people that bring the best out in me. Happiness doesn’t come from money or a fancy job . . . it comes from being the best version of you.

Don’t let her death be in vain, let it change you to live your best god damn life and don’t ever let the small things get you down because even when faced with death . . . Tarsh didn’t let it change her.

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