10.3.04
Diary for Mum
For a couple of months now Mum has said that she didn't feel that well. She felt that she wasn't going to the toilet, as she should. I said go to the doctor, don't mess around. She then went to the doctor and was given some laxatives and after a couple of weeks some suppositories. These did not work properly according to her. I then said her go back to the doctor and ask for a referral to a specialist, I think you need to have a colonoscopy to make sure everything is ok.
Mum went back and duly got the referral. Unfortunately there was a three week wait for her to visit the specialist.
On Thursday 4th March Mum took the medicine (to put it plainly) to clean her out. I rang a couple of times to see how she was going and Mavis said that she would come around and just stay with her (this would have to be a true friendship. Only a true friend would stop with you when you are running to the toilet every couple of minutes).
On Friday 5th March, Mavis picked Mum up and drove her to the doctor’s surgery. It had been previously arranged that I would pick her up at 10.30. When I arrived I was ushered into the doctor’s office. We were then told that mum had a cancerous growth in her bowel and that it would need to be removed.
5.10.04
A considerable amount has lapsed since the last entry. To say this time has been a nightmare is an understatement. Mum had the surgery and then a week later was hit with complications.
Then for the next two months she was fighting for her life. She won but was much depleted when it comes to energy levels. Mum was released for the Dandenong Rehab Centre early May I stayed home with her for a fortnight and then went back to work. Mum stayed for a couple of weeks and then decided to go home. We then decided to go on a holiday to New Zealand. We left Melbourne on 30.7.04. Everything was fine for the first few days and then I fell over and broke my left kneecap. Yuk. We arrived home on 6.8.04. Mum got a shock when she saw my leg but appeared to be OK.. On Wednesday 11.8.04 she had a funny turn at home and was taken to hospital she stayed in hospital until Saturday 21.8.04 and once again came home with me. She seemed ok but was by now very week. On Thursday 26.8.04 she was in a great deal of pain and was taken back to hospital. She stayed in hospital until Wednesday 39.09.04 This time Mum has enter a Residential Support Home. The good news is she loves it. Hopefully now she will pick up.
29 May 2009
Now it is years since the last entry. Mum lost her battle for life on Saturday 20 November 2004. She slipped into a coma on Thursday 18 November. She was so peaceful, so thin and so pale. Alan and I stayed with her at the hospital on Friday 19 November. I whispered to her that I was going out for a short time and not to go any where. On the way back my mobile phone rang and Alan was told that she had past away. A nurse had gone to move her in the bed and said “I’ll be back in a minute Jean with help” when she returned she had taken her last breath and was gone. When we arrived back at the hospital I was amazed how her room had been changed. All the hospital covers were gone and a nice coloured bedspread was on the bed and Mum was in a nice nightie with flowers and photos nicely placed around the room. But what amazed me the most was the nurse that greeted me at the door. To me she was the spitting image of Aunt Flora and to be honest I felt quite blessed at the time it was as if someone was with her that had loved her in life and hopefully was there to meet her in death. Don’t know never will but if it gives me comfort even today to think this was so be it.
Also I should add that Mum’s friend Mavis past away last August 2008
