An Anoka woman, suffering from terminal cancer, celebrates her last Halloween in a haunted house

ANOKA, Minn. (FOX 9) – Denise Godwin Halloween show grows every year, but this year its zombie apocalypse is more important than ever.

“One more thing”

As the sun sets on Ram River Drive in Anoka, fears arise.

“This is going to be my year of one more thing, so this is my last Halloween show,” Godwin told FOX 9.

Last November, the wife and mother of two was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer after she went to the emergency room complaining of back pain.

By June, her cancer had spread to her spinal fluid, and doctors gave her three months to a year to live.

“It was like, ‘Okay, I’ve got this. I have to accept it and I have to fight as hard as I can because I have a family that needs me as long as possible.” said Godwin.

Godwin’s Haunted House won Anoka’s Halloween Decorating Contest three years ago and again this year.

Preservation of tradition

Despite her diagnosis, she wants to keep the tradition alive so others can make precious memories.

“It’s about life. I am not a person dying of cancer. I’m just Denise, a normal person living. Until I die of cancer in hospice. I’m just Denise living my life,” Godwin said.

She expects 2,500 people to visit her exhibit this year, and while this will be her last Halloween, she hopes it will also be her best.

“I want to go out with a bang. I want to hear giggles and laughter and screams. I want them to say it’s the best. This is the ultimate haunted house,” Godwin said.

If you’d like to check out Godwin’s exhibit, it will be open to the public again from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at 3523 Rum River Drive in Anoka.

AND GoFundMe has also been created to help Godwin and her family during this difficult time.