Dame Deborah, also known on social media as the Bowel Babe, died on June 28 aged 40 after a long battle with bowel cancer. Sebastian Bowen married the former deputy manager in France in 2008 and the couple have two children, 14-year-old Hugo and 12-year-old Eloise. “I kissed her on the head. I told her how much I loved her, that I would look after the children and the last thing I said to her was that I was so proud of her,” he told the Sun. “Then he slipped away. He had an incredibly peaceful death, if there was a way for him to die well then he did,” he added. “In the end, it was quite spiritual.” Diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, Dame Deborah has since kept her 1 million Instagram followers up to date with her treatments, posting candid videos and photos of her progress. Two years later, she launched the You, Me And The Big C podcast with Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland, where the trio candidly discussed life with cancer. In May this year, she revealed she had stopped active treatment and was receiving end-of-life care at her parents’ home in Woking. In recognition of her campaign, she was made a dame later that month, with the Duke of Cambridge joining her family for afternoon tea to present the honor in person. Image: Photo: @Bowelbabe/Instagram Speaking about his wife’s achievements in the final months of her life, Mr Bowen said: “I’m in absolute awe of Debs, I’m in awe of what he did and how he did it. He also revealed her “magic” and “the way she finds joy in every moment” is what he misses most about his wife. “It was the core of what made her unique,” he said. Image: Photo: @Bowelbabe/Instagram Despite being given days to live, Dame Deborah defied the odds, living just over seven weeks longer. “People who didn’t know Debs saw her getting weaker and weaker in those last few weeks, but mentally it was the opposite,” Mr Bowen continued. “Through fighting the fires of adversity, she grew stronger and, in my eyes, made her shine brighter with each passing day. “I’ve never loved her more. She knew what was happening to her, yet she was able to find these magical moments.” Image: Photo: @Bowelbabe/Instagram Since Dame Deborah shared her end-of-life journey, charities have seen an increase in people seeking information about bowel cancer. Shortly before her death, she also announced that she had completed her second book, titled How To Live When You Could Be Dead, which will be published on August 18. Her first book, F*** You Cancer: How To Face The Big C, Live Your Life And Still Be Yourself, was published in 2018.
