Abbi Hewitson, from Hartlepool, sadly passed away in December 2025 at the age of 31, surrounded by her family, following a long battle with a low-grade glioma. She had been diagnosed at The James Cook University Hospital in 2019.
Despite her diagnosis, Abbi never allowed her condition to define her and went on to raise thousands of pounds for the teams at James Cook who cared for her throughout her treatment.
Their efforts raised more than £8,000 for the unit, despite Abbi’s deteriorating condition.
Nicola said: “Throughout her treatment, she developed a special bond with Mr Anil Varma, consultant neurosurgeon, whom Abbi called her very own ‘angel’.
“She had a lot of love and respect for Mr Varma and thought the absolute world of him.”
Following Abbi’s passing, Nicola wanted to continue her daughter’s fundraising efforts for different hospital teams at University Hospitals Tees and honour the incredible legacy she left behind.
As a result, Nicola, who works as a specialist therapy assistant in the paediatric physiotherapy unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, decided to donate special toys for children undergoing treatment in the same department.
The donation has been made in memory of Abbi and as a thank you to the teams who cared for her over the years.
Many children who attend the hospital for treatment can find the environment daunting. Thanks to the generous donation from Nicola and her family, young patients attending the unit will now have toys to help them feel more relaxed and comfortable during their visits.
Nicola added: “Abbi knew and loved the staff I work with and they became good friends to her. She would have loved nothing better than seeing children getting happiness from the toys.
“Abbi was the most kind, generous and caring person. Anyone who met her knew that.”
Dr Anil Varma added: “Abbi has always been special. She had a warm and loving persona that brightened every space she was in.
“Abbi always maintained a positive attitude and was very inspirational in the way she carried herself throughout this journey.
The effort to participate in The Great North run and raise money was a typical example of her drive and passion to carry on and enjoy her life. The framed T-shirt from that run that she presented to me still adorns my office, which is a constant reminder for me about the wonderful personality I met in my surgical journey.
“Abbi will be resting with the ‘angels’, as she was probably one of them who came to earth and whom I was fortunate to meet.”