Why courageous Maggie battles on

But she’s determined to battle on for the sake of her six children who range in age from 10 to four – Liam, twins Daniel and Anne, David, Cian and Fintan.

Her heartbreaking plight is spread across two pages in this week’s Take a Break magazine. In it she says: “I just want to have more time to be a mum. I want Fintan to be old enough to remember me.”

The whole family went to Germany on Boxing Day for Maggie (pictured in Cologne) to have treatment at an alternative clinic claiming to offer life-extending treatment.

But she collapsed soon after they arrived and had to be rushed to hospital.

Her devastated husband David is now back home with the children.

He said: “She can’t be left alone so her sisters are taking it in turns to stay with her.

“The top cancer hospital she was taken to advised her to come home for some ‘proper’ treatment.

“But Maggie feels as long as she’s at the clinic she has hope.” David, who has had to abandon his career as a commercial photographer to look after the family, admits he’s struggling to cope without his childhood sweetheart and soul mate, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

He will collect her from the clinic in two weeks’ time and is hoping she’ll be well enough to attend her parents’ golden wedding anniversary at the end of the month.

He said: “She’s so positive she keeps us all going.”

The Thomas’ have spent their life savings and re-mortgaged their house in a desperate attempt to keep Maggie alive. If you’d like to contribute to her treatment, visit www.maggieshope.co.uk