In the 10 days since her last blog, mum started to feel more tired and breathless, she would spend more time resting and dad would help her to get up and down the stairs. We all put this down to the Chemo, as it is a tough treatment on the body, and encouraged her to rest as much as she needed. During this time, mum began to get very constipated. This constipation carried on, despite her taking Movicol and attempting to relieve the symptoms. As a result, mum found it difficult to eat anything, as she already felt full, and other than the odd smoothie or yoghurt here and there, she stopped eating altogether.
On Thursday, oxygen tanks were brought into the house, one downstairs and one by mum and dad’s bed, so that she could take in extra oxygen before negotiating the stairs, which eased mums breathlessness a lot.
On Saturday 15th October, dad and Stephen took mum into the Hospice so they could check her over and try to relieve the constipation. At this point, we were all very concerned that she hadn’t eaten in a few days, and the hospice is a far nicer environment than the hospital. Dr Katie Taylor checked mum over and suggested that it could be the chemo that was making mum constipated. She didn’t think that it was the meso. Mum went home that afternoon with dad and slept pretty much on and off until the following morning.
On Sunday, we were at home with mum while dad went to church. It was clear that we needed to take mum back to the hospice so they could try and encourage her to eat, we thought they may be able to put her on a drip or fluids of some kind. When dad got back from church, we all went with mum to the hospice where she was seen by Dr Katie Taylor again. Once Dr Katie had checked on mum, she came to speak to us. She told us that the disease had progressed and that mums side effects were more likely to be down to this than the chemo. She told us that they would not be able to put mum on fluids as her body would reject them, and if she was able to digest them she would have been eating orally. She tried to prepare us for the fact that mum was in the last stage of her illness, and that she would not be receiving anymore treatments, only being made more comfortable.
With the whole family there that night, we all spent time with mum, talking to her, telling her how much we love her and holding her hands. She told all of us she loves us and we went home that night. The next morning, we all went back to the hospice and spent time with mum again. We were told she had deteriorated since coming into the hospice, and that she probably only had 2 – 3 days left.
In all honesty, we were shocked and horrified as we just hadn’t taken in how serious it had got. We had all just got back to mum and dad’s house when the hospice rang to tell dad to come back quickly as mum was weakening rapidly. It was too late by the time we got there, the two nurses that were with her told us she died very peacefully, she simply closed her eyes…
We all got to see mum, and they were right, she did look very calm and peaceful.
Mum did not suffer at the end, something I know she worried about, and I’m sure occupies a lot of peoples minds when they know they have a terminal illness. She gave us every bit of fight she had, and I can honestly say that being able to say she is my mum, makes me the proudest daughter in the world. Her bravery, compassion and above all her love for everyone amazed me every day. She told me that she couldn’t have done this without dad, he gave her strength. Me and my brothers are so proud of our parents and are so thankful for the love they have always given us.
Mum and Dad, Mallorca 2009
We know this blog has touched thousands of peoples lives, and we hope that mum has given lots of people the courage to keep fighting. New trials and treatments are being developed all the time, and we all hope that soon this disease can be cured. We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the love and support you have all given mum, and for the words of love and comfort that you have been sending dad, which have been a huge support for him to read at this time. Mum is an inspiration to many, and she always will be to us.
A special thank you to all the staff, nurses and doctors at Maidstone Oncology, The Heart of Kent Hospice and especially Sandra Wakelin.
No comments:
Post a Comment