Posts from — April 2010

My last update to the site was when we found out that Mumma K had 3 months to live. The good news was that she did indeed see Christmas. However on February 20th 2010 Mumma K sadly breathed her last breathe.

It was back in November 2008 when diagnosis was confirmed making it a year and a few months until she passed away. The run up to Christmas 2009 was a stressful one, with Mumma K’s condition deteriorating considerably. Now almost completely bed ridden it was a sad waiting game. Incredibly Mumma K surpassed doctor’s and our own opinion how much longer she had left to live. In the last 2 months she required round the clock supervision. Mumma K had expressed that she did not want to go into a hospice and her wish was granted. Various family members and nurse took shifts to care for her.

The strength to fight the effects of the cancer were incredible. Mumma K basically tried to not sleep (because she thought if she sleeped she’d never wake up). She would sit up in her bed and continuously keep one leg out of the bed with a foot on the floor – a subconscious indicator that she’s not going yet. Even right up to her last day she moved into the lounge – sitting upright fighting against the meds and the cancer to stay alive. Mumma K fought against the palliative drugs throughout the last few weeks, which were even doubled up to try and knock her out – so that she could at least have a normal night’s sleep.

On the final day the whole family had arranged to meet up round there at 6:30pm. A family tea was planned and i was going to make a chilli for everyone. Strangely everyone that was planning to go round turned up late, ourselves included. As we walked through the door about 10 minutes we discovered the horrific yet fateful news that moments earlier Mumma K just breathed her last breathe. Needless to say it was an emotional evening. Having seen my Dad breathe his breathe after having a brain tumour it was something i hoped i’d never see again.

Mumma K’s battle was long yet she always had a friends and family around her right to the end. She was a warm and loving lady which loved living life to the full. She will be missed but never forgotten.

A week or so after her death it was time to have her old bed taken away. Poppa K had purchased many gadgets to help him and one was a wireless doorbell. This meant that Mumma K could get help while Poppa K sat in the conservatory (or should that be sanctuary!). As the removal guys were taking the bed out the doorbell went off – it had been in the left in the kitchen. A confused and shocked Poppa K tried to work out was going on, and then it rang again! The batteries were soon removed after this scary incident. But we like to think that Mumma K was watching down on him and maybe cursing (in a good way) the removal of the bed.

In writing these blog posts i hope that at least one person will think again and attempt to give up smoking for good. It’s not easy but lung cancer is truly a horrible way to go. There are a lot of support lines available as well as aids to help quit.