Final Days

Gran's Story - Final Days

When Gran was about 90 years old we all realised that she was becoming more unwell and frail. When she started complaining of pains in her ribs and other bones we finally persuaded her to visit her G.P. After blood tests it was arranged for Gran to attend Ipswich Hospital to see a Consultant. This was followed by a Bone Marrow test and when Peter and I met the Consultant he told us Gran was suffering from Multiple Myeloma - cancer of the bones.

Now Gran had to frequently attend the Oncology Clinic at Ipswich Hospital for blood transfusions and bone strengthening treatment. We needed to use a wheelchair to transfer Gran from the flat to the car and the car to the Hospital and she found this very tiring and stressful. This continued until the Consultant suggested that the Rapid Response Team should visit Gran in her flat to give the treatments. However, this proved unsuccessful and the treatment had to be aborted on two occasions due to Gran’s blood pressure being too high so we had to revert to going to the Clinic once more.

On March 8th, 2006 when I arrived as usual at 8.30 in the morning I found Gran’s curtains had not been drawn back. This immediately alarmed me and when I got to the flat I found her in her dressing gown sitting in her chair. It was immediately obvious that she was extremely ill and I telephoned the G.P. to request a visit.

Later that day Gran was admitted to Ipswich Hospital accompanied by Peter, Jenny and myself and we were told pneumonia had been diagnosed.

Gran gradually deteriorated and one day when we were visiting the nurse told us she had had a slight heart attack. Gran had no fear of dying and she said to me and others who visited her - “Soon I shall see the face of Jesus”.

Unfortunately, the weekend before Gran died, visiting on the ward was restricted due to a sickness bug and I will always feel very sad about this. My husband Don and brother Peter were permitted to visit on the afternoon of March 21st 2006 and then later that evening we received a telephone message to say our Gran had died, aged 93 years.

Gran’s words had come to pass — she was now - ‘Just a Memory’.

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