Louise McOrmond-Plummer was planning to hand down her precious engagement ring to her granddaughter, until a heartless thief stole it from her lounge room at night while she slept upstairs.
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The ring had extra sentimental value since her husband, Ken Plummer, died in November from a rare form of cancer called dedifferentiated liposarcoma.
The mistake to leave the door of her Lavington home unlocked overnight last week was put down to “widow brain”.
Ms McOrmond-Plummer’s 18-year-old son scared away the burglar, but not before he got away with the ring and a handbag, which contained about $30 in cash and a keyring specially made with Mr Plummer’s picture.
“It is the sentimental value, some people just don’t have a conscience,” she said.
Albury police were still investigating the theft – the culprit had purchased $20 in phone credit before bank cards were cancelled.
Ms McOrmond-Plummer described her partner of 30 years as “a marvellous husband and dad” to their five children, and well respected for running Plummer’s Freight Service.
He was diagnosed with sarcoma in March 2016 and although they were hopeful of successful treatment, the cancer had spread from his abdomen to his brain and lungs and his health quickly deteriorated.
“The tumours, we were were warned, were very aggressive,” Ms McOrmond-Plummer said.
“The lung tumours had completely raged the length and breadth of his lungs within that two weeks.”
The night before he died, Mr Plummer asked his wife to make sure he was not forgotten.
A new awareness campaign of sarcoma, called “Kenny’s Mates” will ensure that promise will be kept.
Ms McOrmond-Plummer created wristbands to sell for $5 and a heartfelt YouTube video to raise awareness of the rare cancer, of which many people were not aware.
“The grief has been so painful and I thought we can’t do anything about the fact that he died, but sarcoma has been referred to as the forgotten cancer … it’s been really therapeutic for the kids and I to think we can do something,” she said.
“It’s not a popular cancer so it doesn’t get the research dollars and the profile that other cancers get.”
All profits will go to the Australiasian Sarcoma Study Group.
“I’m just a determined widow who’s pissed off at the cancer that killed my husband and I’d like to make a difference,” Ms McOrmond-Plummer said.
To support the campaign, visit the Kenny's Mates Sarcoma Research Support Initiative on Facebook or www.zazzle.com.au/kennys_mates.
