It’s with a heavy heart that I must inform you that my brave and beautiful Mum slipped away from us on Tuesday evening, at St Ann’s in Heald Green.
I recall showing her this forum close to her initial diagnosis back in 2016, and I was heartened to see her sign up and start using it. Mum was quite a private, stoic sort of lady so I wasn’t entirely sure how receptive she might be to the idea of using an internet to share her innermost thoughts, feelings and of course daily battles with the rollercoaster of a journey she was on.
However, I know that it, and the people who are on here, helped her an enormous amount. Although she didn’t write that often, when she did she received so many incredible and supportive replies it was a great source of strength to her. And as her son I would read her posts with care and attention as I knew it would give us a little extra insight into her day to day world which perhaps she wouldn’t want to burden us with.
In the end she was ready to go (her words) but it still didn’t stop us finishing our last scrabble game literally hours before the end. She was surrounded by family and love as she gently left us in her sleep. We will miss you so much Mum, but hope you are in a better place.
I must also thank the staff at St Ann’s who helped care for us all really during this difficult last week. Even though it’s been the toughest of times, their amazing staff provided for Mum so well - we enjoyed their ‘light up a life’ service last Thursday evening (with Mum enjoying the carols from her bedside at the main entrance, sipping on mulled wine and eating bit of mince pie!) as well as a special early Christmas dinner on Sunday that they helped organise for us. Fantastic memories right until the end.
Anyway, thank you for reading. I will leave you with a picture of me and Mum from April 2017. Taken in our garden (her favourite place) after I had completed the Manchester Marathon for Ovacome. This made the Facrbook page and it really shows how she felt about Ovacome and this forum.
If you are fighting your own fight I hope Mum’s story gives you a small amout of heart - and I wish you the very best wishes in your own personal journey.
Best wishes,
Simon Dickinson
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What a lovely post - so sorry to read about your Mum but glad that she died so well cared for and surrounded by those she loved - wishing you all the best and thank you for taking time to let us know x
So sorry for your loss. Thank you for your lovely post. My condolences to you and your family. Janet was so lucky to have such a warm, caring and loving son. You should be very proud of yourself. Wishing you all the very best going forward, your mum will always be in your heart and you have many wonderful memories. Kathy xx Fly high on those teal wings Janet xx
I’m so sorry for your sad loss Simon, thank you for sharing your news with us, it is good she was cared for so well and you were able to spend such quality time with her, St Anne’s is a nice place and they are very caring and comforting. I hope in time you are able to look back on all the happy times you had with your lovely Mum and take some comfort from the love she obviously felt from you and that she had for you. Fly high lovely Janet now at peace ❤️Xx Jane
My sincerest condolences to you and your family. xx
You have been a wonderful support for your mother and very brave for providing this sweet post about your morher’s tragic passing.
Thank you so much for bringing her to Ovacome and for your continued support.
If it is at all possible, and I realise this might be too difficult, could you post a history of your mother’s disease journey?
How far was her cancer advanced when she was diagnosed and what treatments she received along the way?
Her life was cut short and that’s a tragedy and at least we all can learn from her journey, just as we take heart from the love and encouragement she received from her son and family.
We all wish we could hug you.
Best wishes,
Laura
Prayers and thoughts for you and your family Simon 🙏🏼 Fly high teal angel.xx
Thank you, Simon, for letting us know. I had the privilege of meeting her at the Christie, where we exchanged notes on the dreaded Rotterdam Regime, and we followed each other's journey. She was a strong and brave lady, and I am glad that her final days had some pleasures to savour with her family. Condolences to you and your father, whom I also met at the Christie last July. Christine
I am so sorry for your loss but thank you so much for posting. Though only at the beginning of my journey I take comfort from your picture of mum’s peaceful end. The picture you posted shows her as vibrant in your beautiful garden. Xoxo
I’m so glad it was so peaceful for Janet. We corresponded a number of times as some of our treatments were similar and also particularly of late regarding flowers and forget-me-nots.
Such a lovely post Simon, your mother will be sadly missed.
Thank you for letting us know. That was very kind and thoughtful of you. No doubt reflective of your treatment of your mother. She was most helpful to me in sharing with me her own experiences with particular treatments. Lovely photo.
I'm so sorry to hear she's passed... it seems like we just heard from her, and now she's taken that last step.
Yet I'm smiling a bit about the scrabble. Amazing, was Helen. She posted quite often in support of others, and lightened our hearts with uplifting observations or questions. Thank you for thinking of us, Simon. You and yours take care now. Xx. Maus
From all you say in your post, Simon, you will have brought your Mum such joy....many of us here will, I'm sure, 'thank you' on her behalf. Warmest wishes and hope your grieving brings you many very happy memories and feelings of contentment; smother any tinges of regret with the love she will have received from you all. Lesley
Simon, thank you for finding time to let us all know here about your dear mum. Your love and kindness shines through your words and I’m sure she’d be very proud of you. Thinking of you and your family. Jo 🌹
I’m so sorry Simon to hear the news about your lovely Mum, Janet was so thoughtful and caring, supporting all of us on our journey and very open about what she was going through. Her posts were kind and insightful and she was clearly a wonderful lady 💕 sending hugs to you, fly high Janet Xxx 💖
Dear Simon - I am so sorry for your loss but your post is just wonderful, how super that your Mum could have joined the Carole service with a mince pie, what a wonderful memory for you. Thank you again - Nicola
Well done Simon. Your lovely Mum sounds to have passed in a calm and peaceful way and although ready to go still had time to appreciate simple pleasures so close to the end. No doubt she was very proud of you and your love for her shines through your post. Condolences to you and your family at this time.
Cheryl X
Thankyou for the lovely memories of your mother, my sincere condolences.
What a beautiful post Simon. I'm so sorry to hear of your Mum's passing. Hospices are amazing places and I'm so glad your mum received such great care. Wishing you all tranquility and strength.
I am so sorry for your sad loss Simon. Thank you for the post it is so good to know she passed gently and with such dignity. This is so helpful to all of us on this journey whether new to it or not. What beautiful memories you have and what lovely souls you both are.
I'm so very sorry Simon, to hear that you have lost your dear Mum to this hated disease. She was very lucky to have such a loving, caring son like you and I'm glad that you and your family could be with her in the last few days of her life. I loved reading about her listening to Carols, sipping mulled wine and nibbling a mince pie and having an early Christmas dinner and even playing a bit of scrabble. Happy, poignant memories for you to add to all your other ones. I'll be thinking of you having to make funeral arrangements etc at a time when there's such a lot of Christmas merriment all round, making things even more sad. Thank you for letting us know about Janet.
Sending love and sympathy to you and your family and friends,
So sorry to hear this and for the great loss she will be to your family. I remember this pic from the Facebook page last year. She looks so proud if you. Thank you for letting us know Simon 💕
Thanks for taking the time, Simon, at this very sad time to write a memorable post. All our thoughts are with you and your family. I'm so pleased that mum managed to have such happy times even with this dreadful disease..
I am so sorry to hear of your Mum’s passing. I know this is such a difficult time but hold all the happy memories dear to you in your heart. Your post was a lovely tribute to your mother and she was undoubtedly so loved! ❤️ What a blessing for all! I remember reading her posts and she was so very encouraging and kind to others. I am thankful she was surrounded by all her loved ones. I am sure she knew that! ❤️ Blessings to you and the rest of your family at this time.
Thank you all. On behalf of my family and I we are touched by every single thoughtful and heartfelt reply we have received. It really does make a difference to receive them. Mum was a very special lady and it’s good to know that was the case here as well. I would like to use these comments at Mum’s celebration of life so if anybody would prefer that I don’t read/print theirs then please let me know.
Best wishes to you all and I hope you all enjoy a Happy festive period.
I am sitting here in tears. You are a good son. Thank you for sharing this tender, private moment of her passing. Your words give us comfort and closure. I am so sorry your mom went through this, but, she was a lucky lady to have you and all that you described above.
God Bless you and your family in this time of loss. May your lovely mom rest in peace. Stay well.
Such sad news . Janet was a lovely lady . Her passing sounded very peaceful and it was good you could be with her. You couldn’t have done more for her ; I am sure.
I do hope you can receive some comfort in knowing how much your Mum meant to the Forum .
Please take care of yourself now and I hope the Christmas period will not be too distressing for you .
Thank you for taking the time to share. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Praying for God’s comfort to surround you at this difficult time.
Such sad news, so sorry for your loss Simon. I’m sure your mum was really proud of what you did for the charity and the support she had from you and your family throughout her illness. With deepest sympathy to you all, Jo xx
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