AFTER being diagnosed with leukaemia just a month after giving birth, Natasha Taylor went through “four years of hell”.

Natasha, 32, spent the first six months of Alfie’s life in hospital and was convinced she had a death sentence hanging over her.

Following extensive treatment, she went on to have a third child, Herbie, now 11 months, and threw herself into family life and promoting the work of her charity Leukaemia Educating and Fundraising (Leaf).

But Natasha, from Stape Hill, near Wimborne, still had six-monthly bone marrow tests to contend with – until a fortnight ago, when she received some amazing news.

“I’d been on holiday, came home and there was a mountain of post,” she said.

“My eyes just went to the hospital envelope.

“Whenever I get a letter from the hospital I panic. I just ripped it open. At the top it had ‘department of haematology’ and my heart just sank.

“But it said I had the all-clear. As I was reading it I was shaking. I felt as shocked as I did when I found out I had it, because I wasn’t expecting it.

“I always thought it was five years before you got the all-clear.

“I had always put myself down that I was going to die, so I was surprised how relieved I felt.”

Natasha now feels she has been given her life back and has delighted in sharing her news with friends and family, particularly her eldest son Joshua, nine.

“He understands the illness now, so for him it was just such a relief,” she said.

“He always worries that it’s going to come back, so he can get on with his life now. If I’ve got a bruise on my leg it doesn’t mean it’s come back.”

Of course Natasha will never forget what she and her family went through and is still set on helping others experiencing the same trauma.

She is concentrating on raising money for Leaf to send Poole Hospital staff on education courses and organising three main charity events a year, the next of which is a Christmas Charity Ball at the Haven Hotel on November 28, including a champagne reception, three-course dinner, auction and Rat Pack performance.

Leaf’s other focus is funding holidays and days out for young families where a parent has been affected by leukaemia and Natasha is currently on the look-out for any local holiday companies or attractions who can offer discounts to the charity.

“That, for me, is the biggest thing,” she said.

“I just feel that, when you’ve had leukaemia, you’re separated from your family so much.

“It’s not only the sufferer that goes through it, it’s the family, especially the children, and you do miss the quality time.”

It’s that quality time that Natasha is now making the most of.

“I don’t have any plans for the future,” she said.

“I’m just grateful I’ve got a future. For me, just bringing my children up is more than I could have wished for.”

•To find out more about Leaf, or if you can help with fundraising, donating prizes for auctions or offering discounted holidays or days out, call Natasha Taylor on 07500 448766, email tash@leafcharity.co.uk or visit leafcharity.com.