A father has fulfilled his daughter's dying wish by writing a book to commemorate her life and help others with cancer.
Sammy Jo Brandon, from Hornchurch, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2015, aged 27, and died less than three years later.
Sammy Jo's parents Matt and Kim Brandon have used their daughter's experience to bring about positive changes.
Around eight years ago they launched the Sammy Jo Brandon Foundation which has since raised more than £700,000 for Children with Cancer UK - as wished for by Sammy Jo.
On Sunday (July 12), a book launch event was held at Best Sellers bookshop in Station Lane to celebrate the family's latest effort to share Sammy Jo's story.
Written by Matt, When Life Goes Tits Up documents the journey of his daughter as well as that of himself and Kim.
Speaking to the Recorder, Matt said: “The biggest thing for me was to write the book because it was her dying wish but I also hope people just generally enjoy reading a story because I’ve deliberately made it funny in places.
“I’d like to think that there’s somebody out there who doesn’t have the family support but could read the book and it give them some hope and some idea of what they should be doing.
“I point out in the book that when you’re being treated for cancer you need to do a bit of your own research because you don’t get told everything.
“Sammy Jo suffered with depression and anxiety so we used to have lots of chats about that and I also covered that deliberately because I want the book to self-help people.
“We also covered her journey from start to finish until where we are now."
Matt collaborated with a ghost writer from Scotland to help with the flow and storytelling side of the book as he deems himself "not an academic".
He said: “Writing this book was therapy for me.
“Being able to talk to the ghost writer makes you process and think about every situation.
“I’ve since suggested to people who are having issues to sit and write it down because whilst you’re writing it makes you think a bit deeper and analyse things.
“I sat there many a time re-reading it and writing it, crying and laughing at the same time.
“There is a lot of laughter in the book as well, because that was part of her character."
Matt said that dark humour was part of the way himself and Sammy Jo dealt with her situation.
Sammy Jo was cremated and he recounted how at her funeral - which the family refer to as a "celebration of life" - she requested Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys to be played.
“When you come to grieving and death, a lot of dark humour comes out in people," he said.
“We had quite a few chats about what Sammy Jo sees for the future for us with her not being there.
“I want the book to allow people to find the strength to organise their own funerals.
“I’d also love it to make a good amount of money for Children with Cancer UK – they need every penny they can get."
All the profit for book sales that would typically go to Matt will be sent to the cancer charity.
Supporting Children with Cancer UK was an explicit wish from Sammy Jo, who, throughout her treatment, was "always worried" about children going through the same thing, according to Matt.
This selflessness was a key characteristic of Sammy Jo, Matt said.
“When she was on top of her game and not suffering she was a bundle of fun – always looking for laughter and would do anything for people," he said.
“You couldn’t ask for a better daughter.
“She suffered but she dealt with it – she didn’t feel sorry for herself."
He also explained how the title of the book came about.
“The title came after Sammy Jo told me ‘Dad write the book and this is what is has to be called because things went wrong’.
“In this area we refer to things as going ‘tits up’ and with it being breast cancer, it had a nice connection to it.
“She did very well with the title – we were very pleased with that."
Around 350 copies have been sold and around £1,070 was raised for charity on the day of the book launch alone.
Matt said that if the book is successful, he would consider writing a second one but is "pretty confident" he could do it on his own this time.
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