Our story

Hi, my name is Lily and I am the founder of With love, Frenkie.

I have always been obsessed with fashion and creating memorable, trendy outfits. I love jewellery and how it can completely transform an outfit, you could wear a bin bag but as long as you have the right accessories you'll look like you've just stepped off the runway. 

In March 2022, when I was just 15, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and then in April 2022 I had an 11 hour surgery to attempt to remove it. My surgeon removed as much as possible without causing major damage to nerves, unfortunately because of this I was still left with a tumour. After the surgery I permanently lost my hearing in my right ear and developed severe double vision, as at the time I was in my final year of secondary school, I had to sit my GCSEs 4 weeks after my surgery. Because of the surgery I didn't achieve very highly in my exams but I still managed to get into my dream college, The Fashion Retail Academy (FRA). Unfortunately I found it very difficult attending and relating with the other students, I dropped out less than 2 months later. 

After college I wasn't doing anything (apart from attending frequent hospital appointments) so I had a lot of free time, I have always loved dogs and had a 6 year old cockapoo family dog at the time. In early 2023 I decided that I wanted my own dog to fill up my time and help my mental health, on the 7th April 2023 I picked up my 8 week old red cocker spaniel, Frenkie. 

I very quickly became obsessed with Frenkie and spent all my time playing with and looking after him, getting Frenkie is by far the best decision I've ever made and I am constantly questioning why we didn't get a cocker spaniel sooner.

After my brain surgery in April 2022 my tumour remained stable for almost 3 years, on the 14th February 2025 I was told by my oncologist that my tumour had started to grow. A second surgery wasn't an option so we were left with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, it was recommended that I have proton beam therapy which is a precise type of radiotherapy that will minimalize damage to surrounding healthy tissues compared to traditional X-ray radiation therapy. I started my treatment in early April 2025, it was everyday Monday to Friday for 6 weeks.

Prior to finding out I'd need further treatment I was looking for a job, I realised I wouldn't be able to work for a while so I begun thinking about starting my own business. I'd always dreamed about owning my own fashion business and being able to wake up and do something I love every day. I decided that now was the perfect time to start and give myself something else to focus on during treatment. 

And here we are now....