A tribute byKayleigh Quinn
In 2017 my nan 'Wendy' was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Her story began with 5 months of visiting doctors and being turned away being told it was simply 'Back Ache' until the day she visited a trainee doctor and told it could potentially be cancer.
After this day her whole life changed and become nothing but tests I remember my nan telling me that she felt like "Nothing but a pin cushion". From blood tests to internal cameras finally in December the phone call came that everyone dreaded it was cancer. Visiting the hospital family at hand everyone was told that It was pancreatic cancer a form of cancer which is that hard to find that when they do it is to late, the only option was chemotherapy to help prolong her life.
Many trips back and forth to hospitals took place each time something new coming to light. Halton Hospice, Runcorn played a big part in Wendy's final months with them increasing her quality of life during times she thought she had none.
The cancer was nothing short of exhausting for both my nan and my family, she was fading in front of our eyes. Wendy tried to fight the cancer and conceal the pain even with the bedridden factors of cancer taking their toll from exhaustion, lack of appetite and lack of mobility which stopped her fulfilling daily activities such as walking her dog Patch, showering by herself and even moving around the house on some days.
My nan often had ups and downs but as soon as she appeared to be getting better she would end up straight back in the hospital which was the case back in 13th April 2018 when she took her last turn. The cancer had spread to her lungs and morphine dosages was being upped throughout the day all the family could hear is that sound, a sound like breathing but not, a sound which will live in your mind forever one which was enough to cause tears which brought my mother Angela straight to the floor.
After spending nearly 24 hours at the hospital and consuming vast amounts of coffee my mum decided to go home and rest for a couple of hours. When returning to the hospital on the motorway my mum's phone began to ring with her becoming distracted she frantically started to try and answer the call causing her to start swerving helping prevent this I ensured she stayed focused on the road even though we both guessed at the possibilities of what the call would be. After we got off the motorway and near to the hospital my mum was able to answer to the call that my nan had passed I did not know at this point but I guessed from the tears rolling down her face.
Wendy sadly passed at Clatterbridge Hospital on 14.04.2018.
I have shared my story to let families out there who have been affected by cancer know that you are not alone and it is okay not to be okay when facing the heart breaking challenges of cancer.
Furthermore, to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer with the hope that one day there will be more ways of discovering and treating it to help save and prolong lives of those affected.
View Wendy's story:
https://youtu.be/UjWBo-KCjC4
Her story began with 5 months of visiting doctors and being turned away being told it was simply 'Back Ache' until the day she visited a trainee doctor and told it could potentially be cancer.
After this day her whole life changed and become nothing but tests I remember my nan telling me that she felt like "Nothing but a pin cushion". From blood tests to internal cameras finally in December the phone call came that everyone dreaded it was cancer. Visiting the hospital family at hand everyone was told that It was pancreatic cancer a form of cancer which is that hard to find that when they do it is to late, the only option was chemotherapy to help prolong her life.
Many trips back and forth to hospitals took place each time something new coming to light. Halton Hospice, Runcorn played a big part in Wendy's final months with them increasing her quality of life during times she thought she had none.
The cancer was nothing short of exhausting for both my nan and my family, she was fading in front of our eyes. Wendy tried to fight the cancer and conceal the pain even with the bedridden factors of cancer taking their toll from exhaustion, lack of appetite and lack of mobility which stopped her fulfilling daily activities such as walking her dog Patch, showering by herself and even moving around the house on some days.
My nan often had ups and downs but as soon as she appeared to be getting better she would end up straight back in the hospital which was the case back in 13th April 2018 when she took her last turn. The cancer had spread to her lungs and morphine dosages was being upped throughout the day all the family could hear is that sound, a sound like breathing but not, a sound which will live in your mind forever one which was enough to cause tears which brought my mother Angela straight to the floor.
After spending nearly 24 hours at the hospital and consuming vast amounts of coffee my mum decided to go home and rest for a couple of hours. When returning to the hospital on the motorway my mum's phone began to ring with her becoming distracted she frantically started to try and answer the call causing her to start swerving helping prevent this I ensured she stayed focused on the road even though we both guessed at the possibilities of what the call would be. After we got off the motorway and near to the hospital my mum was able to answer to the call that my nan had passed I did not know at this point but I guessed from the tears rolling down her face.
Wendy sadly passed at Clatterbridge Hospital on 14.04.2018.
I have shared my story to let families out there who have been affected by cancer know that you are not alone and it is okay not to be okay when facing the heart breaking challenges of cancer.
Furthermore, to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer with the hope that one day there will be more ways of discovering and treating it to help save and prolong lives of those affected.
View Wendy's story:
https://youtu.be/UjWBo-KCjC4