The Reflective Side: Rachael Bland, BBC Presenter and Devoted Young Mother passes away at the tender age of 40 from incurable Cancer.

[markbenjamin57]

Greetings All

On an unusually sombre note (seriously - no jokes please)...

I'm sure that many of Us Lot of PMR / GCA sufferers in the UK who follow the National News here have heard about Rachael Bland's story - and her remarkable stoicism on her journey up to the very end of her Life today. With incredible dignity and humour, Rachael publicly says 'Goodbye' to a devoted husband, two young children, and a Future that she had planned and would have dearly wanted to share with them.

Only to say: what more compelling reason is there for the likes of Us (mainly) Older PMR GCA Lot to make the most of every day when we hear heart-rending stories like this? Surely, Rachael's story must, somehow, make many of our daily trials, tribulations and relatively minor irritations around things like PMR / GCA symptoms, Pred tapering, dealing with Medics, and the other Minutiae of our Lives fade into a deeper perspective?

All can say in conclusion is:

Try to make the most of every day, despite our daily Niggles. To quote an old saying: 'Today is all we have, and tomorrow brings no Guarantees'. Rachael has had her precious Life taken away from her at short notice at a tender age, for no fault of her own, for reasons that defy the laws of Logic and despite the best of medical interventions.

Many of Us Lot are still here to celebrate Life in much later years than Rachael - it just doesn't make sense. But, of course, Life's Journey doesn't always make sense..

So, for all of that: perhaps we should be grateful for every day - and to get-on with making the most of our Lives as best we can until or unless we can't, for whatever reason?

Enough said?

MB

[allykat]

Yup!

[SheffieldJane]

You’re right of course Mark. On a good day I can see that this disease has actually brought some good with it. Not least meeting all the good souls here. There’s our own Lyn- calif worried sick about her young son Ron, who is really sick due to a medical fluke. So yes, I am grateful.

[Mary63]

Couldn’t agree more

[HeronNS]

anhaga1.com/2016/05/29/sixt...

[CT-5012]

Absolutely, so sad.

[PiersC]

Well said Mark. I did not know the lady involved but hear about this sort of scenario far too often for comfort and you are correct - celebrate life - daily.....

[GOOD_GRIEF]

I'm with you, Mark. I have always been what my mother called "disgustingly healthy", and feel that I have been so lucky all my life not to have to deal with conditions and/or diseases that have plagued others. If I got a cold once a year, that was a lot for me. I have lost many friends to cancer, some of them very young, some with cancer and other issues induced by being at Ground Zero after 9/11. Having an office whose window looked down on the pit, I feel very lucky to have made it this far with my health virtually untouched.

It's always sad to lose someone so young and so talented. My condolences to her family, friends and fans.

[Perkey]

Absolutely agree to all you say and my thoughts are with her family who will be feeling devastated I know.

[Hidden]

I'm with you all the way on that one Mark, well said.

[scats]

Well said does put things into perspective. Feel so sorry for her young son.

[karools16]

Cancer always sad and leaving 2 young children bereft of their Mother, doubly so. My Brother-in-law died from cancer, aged 49. I AM grateful I have made 71.Good post, Mark.

[Charlie1boy]

Nice one Mark. I'm totally with you on this very sad story.

Paddy

[Marilyn1959]

I may cause a bit of a stir with this response but hey on this forum we can speak as we find eh?

You are quite right MB. Sad news like this causes us all to count our blessings for a while at least. However a previous post 'Cheer Up' from one of our members saying, in my view, the same message as yours was met with quite a bit of angst, offence and disdain. I am wondering why the difference in responses?

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Marilyn1959]

Thanks Marilyn, maybe best to let the others here answer this one...?!

[Marilyn1959 in reply to markbenjamin57]

It is ok Mark. I am not really after a response, but felt compelled to point out similarities of sentiment in the posts. X

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Marilyn1959]

No worry Marilyn, just thought it better not to give an opinion on one of my own posts! Yep, the other one you mention was controversial - but maybe just a case of people interpreting it in different ways.. 'Words are loaded pistols' etc...? x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Marilyn1959]

I think maybe the difference in the wording and the overall tone between to two posts.

Mark’s is reminding us how lucky we are compared to others, the previous appeared to be chiding us for complaining about our illnesses. Maybe it wasn’t intended to offend - but the written word can be misconstrued very easily by the reader. We all read “things” slightly differently.

I’m sure there were/are differing reactions to most posts, but that’s life isn’t it. We don’t all agree all the time.

[markbenjamin57 in reply to DorsetLady]

Too true DL...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marilyn1959]

Personally I think they are totally different concepts. Which accounts for the differing responses.

[patriciawhite]

I agree ,I just got the news that my 44 year old brave and amazing dearest friend also passed last night with this after three long years of it .Yes you are right we make the best of a bad job .There is no rhyme or reason to it is there . We will complain on a bad day but that is only human . I for one at 67 am aware of the fact that I have out lived many much younger people and do appreciate that .I am grateful for every day . So sorry about Rachel and devastated for my friend who hid most of her last year from us all because she didn't want to worry us . May God be waiting to hold and heal them . Prayers for them too .

[Marilyn1959 in reply to patriciawhite]

I am so sorry to hear about your friend Patricia. It is close to home since we have a very close friend currently struggling against the odds with leukaemia. We are still hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel. It certainly puts a different perspective on things. Thinking of you at this difficult time x

[patriciawhite in reply to Marilyn1959]

Thanks. Her parents are in Thier 80 s and her Mum has looked after her all throughout .Amazing daughter Amazing Mother .

[patriciawhite in reply to Marilyn1959]

Keep hoping keep praying all you can do is be there .I pray for the best for you and your friend.

[Hidden]

Yes wasn't she a remarkable person, doing so much to make cancer and dying talked about. What a brave person; I heard last night that she wrapped presents for her son to open every birthday until he is 21.

Yes we are lucky to have each day, even though it doesn't seem like it some days.

Bridget

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Hidden]

Yes Bridget, it is a really touching story.

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Hidden]

Picking up on Good_grief’s comment about 9/11 and Rachel wrapping presents for her son I met an American lady on a cruise last year. She had just lost her husband who was a fireman at the scene of 9/11. He died from cancer associated with the event. She was on the cruise since her husband had, unbeknown to her, arranged it before he died. They were avid cruise goers and she had previously been a singer on a cruise ship. However he went beyond just arranging the cruise. He had sorted the itinerary over six weeks including leaving spending money in particular shops on the itinerary. How amazingly selfless Rachel and this ‘unknown’ fireman were. Remarkable!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Marilyn1959]

Lovely, a very poignant story...

[Sandy1947]

The finality of death can shock us into gratitude. Many of us count our blessings daily.

[York54]

So tragic. I too have a best friend who is dying from a brain tumour, so count my blessings every day.😔😔😔

[Valnvaughan]

Yes....make the most of everyday.

If you live in travelling distance of Winchester, UK, visit the Flower Festival at the Cathedral on until Sunday 9th. So wonderfully uplifting! And designed by one woman. Colours and smells galore. Combinations you would never dream off.

Best of yesterday for me.

Today.......the start of Heritage Days........free visits to all sorts of buildings near you, in UK.....see on line. Plus talks, walks or pushes in my case.

[jane57]

Oh so true Mark, life is so precious and though we struggle on we are indeed luckier than Rachael. A great loss and the unthinkable for her loveones. Thankyou for that reality check. Jane x

[Grants148]

Well said Mark,it is so sad,she was an amazing person and has helped many other cancer sufferers,such an inspirational lady. It was so hard for her knowing she had to leave the husband and dear little boy she loved so much.l am so grateful to have had a much longer life ,nobody should complain about ‘getting old’,l count myself lucky .

[Grants148]

Dreadful tragedy too the little boy Kayden who was so let down by the hospital,he died in such pain and this need not have happened to this lovely little boy.

[Hidden]

B.Awful Disease, l had the same type of TNBC as Rachel & in young women it’s an absolute B another 6months for me then l should be on the right side of it, my heart broke for her & her family yesterday. RIP Rachel 🌺

[Daisychain12 in reply to Hidden]

Oh Angela I am keeping you in my thoughts and heart xxx

[Daisychain12]

Mark I am sorry I am in Australia so I don’t know her but it is indeed heartbreaking. Rachel sounds a beautiful person and I am deeply saddened to read your post. I don’t know what else to say xxxx