Hope that you are all well.
I have been missing again and wanted to give a quick update to the start of our year.
Mum came to spend Christmas & New Year with us, planning to fly back for her next Chemotherapy early in January.
We had a wonderful Christmas and celebrated New Year watching the fireworks from the porch.
As I said in my last blog – way back in October my Mum was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and was facing Chemotherapy, she was meant to fly home ready for her next Chemo on 2nd Jan, Unfortunately on that morning Mum was extremely poorly and went to QE via ambulance, Mum spent 10 days in Q&E and was then transferred to Greenwich & Bexley Hospice after we were told that she would be unable to return to Ireland as she wasn’t well enough .
Mum as always was amazingly strong and fought with all the grace and dignity that she was well known for, Mum passed away on 18th February – knowing how very much she was loved by us all.
Ann came from Australia, and Lauren from Somerset, the weeks that we got to spend with Mum while she was in the hospice I know we will all treasure forever. We laughed, cried, reminisced, and even had a karaoke session 🤣
The staff were amazing and not only looked after Mum but made sure that we as a family were OK too.
We had Mum’s funeral here, and then we took Mum home as she had asked for a memorial mass and to spread Grandad, Nan, Mum & Starr (our furry sister) ashes together - they are back together just how they would have wanted.
Sunrise 29.8.59 - Sunset 18.2.24
I can’t explain how difficult it was walking back into Mum’s home, everything had been left as she thought that she would be back after her break here in London and knowing that we had 5 days to pack up the entire house - trying to sort through 60 odd years of photos and memories was practically impossible but with the help of family, friends and Mum’s neighbours we got it done.
The last few months has shown me many things, what true friends are, who will have our backs when things get tough and what a strong team Gavin & I are.
Math class 30 years ago was the best thing to ever happen to me 🥰 I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without Gavin, as always, he had my back allowing me to spend all the time I did with Mum.
To the friends & family that came to Mum’s funeral & memorial mass, I can’t thank you enough, the support that you gave me was so needed and to see how much Mum was thought of and loved still brings tears.
I have tried to be strong over the last months and have as much courage as possible, but I feel broken. I am worried that if I sit too long, I won’t be able to get back up, if I start to cry I will never stop and most of all I am scared that this will be the thing that breaks me.
