Progress So Far

  • Romance writer - Historical. Contemporary and Intrigue
  • 2 books written for HarperImpulse

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Sad Today...

My lovely, brave mother-in-law (Rita) passed away yesterday. She was 71 and had been suffering with cancer for over 2 years - often in terrible pain.

Cancer is a horrible disease, and Rita fought a long and hard fight against it. She was initially diagnosed with bowel cancer about 3 years ago. She had that treated and was living with the after effects (colostomy bag etc.). Then about two years ago she went back to the doctors saying the cancer had returned. She was referred back to her original consultant. Without going into too much detail Rita and this consultant had been a loggerheads over her original cancer treatment and when he said rather arrogantly that he didn't think she had cancer, saying it was probably just a hernia Rita wasn't best pleased! She told him she knew her own body - and that it WAS cancer. Cue lots of tests and guess what? She was right - it had returned - a massive tumor on her kidney which subsequently spread. Guess who had to eat humble pie?!

My husband and I are so glad she is out of pain now - although we'll miss her terribly it was SO hard to see her in pain all the time. People say it is a blessing, and I think they are right. But we will miss her. I'm already dreading Christmas, birthdays etc. poignant reminders that Rita is no longer with us. I've been asked to do a reading at the funeral. If anyone knows a fitting bible passage (I do have some up my sleeve) then please let me know.

Thanks for listening. Caroline x
Posted by at
Labels:

11 comments:

  1. Jackie Ashenden20 July 2011 at 20:47

    Big hugs to you and your husband, Caroline. Cancer is a terrible illness.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maisey20 July 2011 at 22:53

    Caroline, of course you'll miss her. So sorry for your loss. I'll keep you in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rachael Johns21 July 2011 at 02:32

    So sorry to hear about your loss, although glad your m-i-l is not longer in pain. Hugs and prayers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Teresa Ashby21 July 2011 at 06:41

    So very sorry, Caroline, Rita is at peace now, but of course you will miss her xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cheryl21 July 2011 at 13:03

    Caroline, I am so sorry to hear this news and know all too well what it's like to lose someone to this illness. My thoughts are with you and your family xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Caroline21 July 2011 at 17:24

    Thank you so much Jackie, Maisey, Rachael, Teresa and Cheryl. Your lovely words are a comfort. Caroline x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kath21 July 2011 at 19:10

    Caroline, I'm so sorry.

    I don't know of any particular passages from the bible apart from those normally used as part of the funeral service but when my mother died, I became very fond of the poem "Crossing the Bar" by Tennyson and have thought of requesting this for my own funeral.

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous22 July 2011 at 08:24

    Thanks Kath - I'll look up Crossing the Bar. Caroline x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Scarlet Wilson25 July 2011 at 19:04

    Sorry to hear about your mum-in-law Caroline, hope you're doing okay xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Caroline25 July 2011 at 19:07

    Thanks Scarlet. Caroline x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Suzanne Ross Jones1 August 2011 at 22:00

    So sorry, Caroline. Thinking of you and sending love.

    XX

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)