Tuesday 9 October 2012

My Winner Is ……. (Plus A Little Update)

Hi there peeps and hope that you are all OK today.

I don’t have a card to share – more in  a sec – but I do have a winner from last week’s Papertake Weekly 5 Year Bash and that lucky girlie is ……..

ptw

… you Stephanie W

So what did I have as my giveaway then?

My giveaway was sponsored by the sweetness that is Sue over at

logo

Craftwork Cards

and the prize is …

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… one of the gorgeous Memory Lane Project of the Month kits :)

Please can you email me at dawnyp123@hotmail.co.uk along with your deets and I will pass them on to Sue who will send out your prize.

Thank you to Sue and everybody at Craftwork Cards for sponsoring  us and to everybody who joined in last week xxx

Now you may have noticed that  I’ve been a bit quiet on here recently and the cardage has been very hit and miss.

The reason has been that my aunty has been really ill. She has cancer and has had the worse time if it these last 18 months. You may remember that I said that my uncle had died suddenly (the post is here). Since then, her health has gone downhill. She was told back in early 2011 that she had bladder cancer but it had been successfully treated. Then just before he died in the May 2011 she was told that they thought it had returned, and all the worry of it caused my uncle’s ulcer to bleed which is why he died. Well following his death, they told her that it wasn't cancer after all, but residual scarring from previous treatments. Then she began to get really unwell and they admitted to hospital and they discovered that it was in fact the cancer after all. So they operated and although it was thought that the cancer had been dealt with, she ended up not being able to walk for months and months because of an after effect of the epidural.

Eventually after nearly 3 months in there, she got home but had to use sticks and a frame to get about (she was very active before all this). But after a very short time at home, she started being unwell again. They could not make up their minds what her problems were but had done scans etc and she was reassured that there was no sign of any cancer. Well in June this year, she was re-admitted again and has suffered in the most awful way ever since. Again they did all kinds of tests but once again we were told that there were no signs of cancer. But she has been so ill and we have just been doing what we could to make her life a bit more bearable, which in truth has not been that much.

In truth, as a society we would not allow an animal to suffer like she has but that’s another issue.

So this has been going on in the background but I could not say anything because she was still reading my blog. Then on September 20th we were told that this residual scarring was in fact cancer after all and that they could do no more for her. How I got through the demoing at Rosemary's I don’t know but I did, and hope that nobody noticed anything untoward. Some people would have been bitter  about all the messing about, but she hasn't been. She just said that there wasn’t anything she could do but to just get on with it, but she aged 20 years overnight.  The one thing she wanted was to just go home to die in her own 4 walls and we have been fighting for this to happen. On Saturday she got her wish and was so upset when she got back because I think she thought she would never see her home again.

The Macmillan nurses have been in – they are amazing – and the family have been with her 24/7 – we are doing a rota and taking it in turns.  She looks desperately unwell but for all that, the stress and worry that was in her face when she in hospital has gone and I think she is finding some peace from being at home. The end for her isn't far away now,  the nurses think days at the most - so all we can do now is make sure she is as comfy at she can be under the circumstances, and hope that  she goes peacefully. It’s also so sad when we take the kids to see her, because as frail as she is, she gives them extra hugs – as much as she can - because I think she is wondering if that will be the last time she sees them. I am dreading it because this lady has had my back from the day I was born and she is  the last link I have to my Mum (she is her only sister) and my beloved Grandparents. But that said, it has been hell watching her go through all of this so it will be a blessing that at last, her suffering will be over.

So the old mojo has taken a bit of a battering and I can’t really think about making cards right now  and to be honest it’s been a struggle for a few weeks.   I’m sure it will come back but for now, I have to just have to concentrate on what’s going on elsewhere.

I’ll be back soon as soon but I don't know when that is likely to be right now. My teamies have been fab, and I have to say a huge thank you to Lols because she has been there with the moral support and offers of practical help for the last few months xxx

I want to end this post with a smile because life is all about balance and there is always something to smile about. So I’ll  leave you with a pic done recently of  Thea who is nearly 5 months old now

photo spikey

Check out that punky hair do and cheeky smile :)  Not the  best pic of her perhaps, but it is cute I think.

Take care sweet peeps and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

27 comments:

Tanya said...

I'm so sorry to hear your very sad news Dawny, it must be so tough for you and your family to see a loved one in such pain and know that you can't do much to help :( My thoughts and prayers are with you all right now.

Hugs and best wishes from Tanya xx

Fleur said...

Oh Dawny, My heart goes out to you. Your Aunty does sound a truly remarkable lady, I'm happy for you all that she got her wish and she has come home for her final days and that she is surrounded by her loving family.
Love to you all Fleur x

Helga said...

Oh - is she sweet !!!
Hugs Helga

Denise said...

Oh Dawn, I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt - please know that my thoughts are with you. So glad you have the Macmillan Nurses supporting you all - they are wonderful.
Biggest of Hugs
Denise xx

Dorte said...

Big hugs to you and your family, Dawny, my thoughts are with you all.
Dorte,xx

Sue said...

Oh dear Dawny. I'm truly sorry to hear about your Aunt.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Take care
Hugs Sue

Victoria said...

Oh sweetie I am so so sorry to read this, I have tears running down my face. Will give you a massive hug when I see you hopefully in a few weeks at the nec. Much love xxxx

Kim said...

not much I can say Dawny, but thinking of you and sending a hug. take care
Kim x

Tracey T said...

Thinking of you, Dawny and sending a mahoosive hug. The MacMillan nurses are just the best and will give your aunty tremendous support. The little one is as cute as a button and I'm sure that both she and Miss Kyla will help you get through this. Tracey xx

Jane said...

What a wonderful family your dear Aunt has Dawny to make her last days bearable. The MacMillan nurses are so supportive too. Take care, I loved the last photo because as you say life is a balance and continues to move constantly forward. May your Aunt find peace soon,
Hugs, Jane x

Pauline C said...

Hi Dawny - just read this and so sorry to hear what your family ahs been going through. I can mepathise to some extent because of some circumstances in my own family situation ... it's very tough and so sad. you hid your inner turmoil very well when you were at Port Sunlight on Sept 29th. Hope your auntie will find peace at the end and your family can take some comfort form that. Thinking of you and sending hugs
Pauline x

Kelly Lloyd said...

Hi Dawny,

So Sorry to hear about your aunt. Love and best wishes for you and all your family at this difficult time..

it has been 12 mths on thursday since we lost my nan to cancer.. We watched her go downhill and struggle, she also wanted to spend what time she had left at home. And thankfully she passed away in peace at home as she had wished..

The Macmillan nurses are brilliant and will care and support your aunt as best as poss..

Take care sweetie, big hugs to you and your aunt..

Love Kelly x

Hazel said...

Dawny

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm thinking of you and sending you lots of warm tight hugs.

You, your Aunty and all your family will be in my thoughts.

Lots of love

Hazel xx

Anne-Marie said...

Dawny, what a blow for you. Sounds very like what happened with my Dad, 2 years ago. We brought him home, and he had those wonderful MacMillan angels in, four times a day, and all he wanted was to have me rub his feet....that had always been my job, as a little girl....and he passed away with us all around him, knowing that we were there, and loved him so dearly.
Please take what comfort you can, and know that your dear auntie will be helped, so very much, by what you are all doing for her. Warm hugs, sweetie.

Candy said...

Dawny,
I am so sorry to hear your very sad news.
I pray that your Aunt goes without pain.
I know what you will be going through - be strong.
She sounds so very brave . . . .
Love, Candy

ribenaruby said...

Thinking of you and this amazing lady..priorities come first Dawny, big hugs for you and your family. Ruby x

jem (jane elizabeth middleton) said...

Just read about your poor Aunty, such suffering. Your family will be in my prayers.
My Nan died of stomach cancer and she always said "the old take strength from the young", the new baby is the future , cherish good memories,
God Bless .janex

MagsB said...

Oh Dawny, I'm so sorry. Thinking of you and all your family.

love Mags B x

Marjorie said...

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news Dawny, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you, your Aunty sounds like one very special lady..you take care..
Big hugs,
Marjorie
xx

ang said...

Your pic is beautiful, I am sorry you and yours have had such a hard time,but glad your Auntie got her wishes to come home angxxx

Joey said...

Dawny, sending you a great big squish xxx

Macpurp said...

my thoughts are with you and your Aunt, it is hard watching some one struggle with illness.

Beautiful baby, made me smile.

love teen x

Sue said...

Oh I'm so sorry to hear your very sad news Dawny...your Aunt seems a very strong and brave lady..my thoughts are with you and your family

Huggles hun xx

Sharon said...

I am sorry to hear your sad news Dawny. I hope that you can take some comfort knowing that she got to end her final days at home. My mojo has left me at the moment due to family illness. Take care.
Hugs Sharon. x

lion_tamer said...

Such an awful time for you. My sincere thoughts and sympathy are with you xx

Planetsusie said...

Hi Dawny - I've just come across your blog as I was hopping about. I had to write a comment to say how sorry I am for everything that is happening in your life at the moment. I do feel that your lovely Aunty will be loads happier in her own home. I used to work for a Consultant in a Hospice for terminally ill patients, and those who were at the Hospice were fine during their last days but the patients who were in hospital were so much happier when they went home, in their own surroundings.

The Macmillan nurses are amazing and were supportive as colleagues as well as nurses.

Hugs to you Sue Pxxx

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