Canticle
Oct 1, 2010, 11:04 AM
We have all lost someone we know, to cancer. Be it friend, or relative, distant acquaintance, or close at hand, loved one. It doesn't really matter which part of the body is going to suffer the cancer, for if a person is lost, an empty space is left, which can never be filled.
This time last year, I was attending the funeral, of a friend's husband, only to be attending her own funeral six weeks later. He died from a massive heart attack and she, from the cancer which had returned, originally in her breast. They left an incredibly beautiful daughter, who is the same age as my own daughter, She turned 22, three days ago.
I've known a few fairly young mothers, from my village, who have died from the cancer, which began in their breast, returning to take their life. Each lady was an inspiration to others and each left young family.
I logged into Yahoo this morning and discovered this story. It's the kind of thing which brings a tear to the eye, but also a smile to the face. What a beautiful woman this lady was.
Remembering this month and every month Janet, Sandra, Maureen and many other women and men, who may suffer cancer, ultimately losing the battle.
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home/dying-mother-left-to-do-list-husband-sons-article-huib.html
I'm leaving the thread up, even though it seems that the Yahoo Lifestyle article has been removed from the main page. There is the 100 things to do, list to see, but the article is not there. Sorry!
Apologies to The Guardian...but...
Thu 30 Sep, 2010 06:04PM BST
A dying mother left a touching "to do list" for her husband to make sure her young sons do not miss out on the treats she had dreamed of for them and are brought up as she would have wished.
Kate Greene died of cancer aged 37, leaving Finn, four, and Reef, six, but not before she had completed her "mum's manual" containing 100 "to do" points.
Included are specific experiences she wanted the boys to enjoy such as visiting the beach she loved as a child, attending an international rugby match and going to Switzerland where her husband, St John, proposed to her. She wanted to make sure they would find a four-leaf clover, learn to play a musical instrument and grow sunflowers.
See a page from 'mum's manual'
Greene decreed that the family should have a dining table so they always eat together and stipulated that both boys should be kissed goodnight twice before going to sleep.
She outlined basic principles she wanted instilled in the boys, such as always being on time, treating girlfriends with respect and making up after a row.
And she spelled out that they should not smoke, ride motorbikes or join the armed forces.
She urged her husband to find another wife so the boys would grow up with a woman.
St John Greene intends to fulfil everything on the list and has already bought a dining table for their home in Clevedon, Somerset.
He has booked flights to Egypt and plans to take the boys to Dublin to watch Ireland play England in the Six Nations.
He said: "Losing Kate was more devastating than words can describe but by carrying out all the wishes on the list we still have an emotional tie. I've already done as much on the list as possible and we plan to do the lot."
Kate Greene had 18 months of chemotherapy after finding a lump in her left breast. Her husband said: "I think towards the end we both knew Kate's time was up. We've known each other since we were children and didn't need to say the words. We just knew.
"Then one night she became really frightened she wouldn't make it through the night, we stayed up chatting and at about 4am we drew up the wishlist of things I had to do with the boys.
"Kate would carry a pen and paper around with her to note down ideas and we would stay up talking about things we wanted the boys to do.
"Before I knew it there were over three sides of A4 filled with things on the list. I've done some of them already and every time we do one we think of her."
During her final days when she became too ill to write, she would leave phone messages, which her husband dutifully recorded.
Mr Greene said the most challenging wish would be to find another partner.
"The most difficult is, without doubt, finding someone else," he said.
"I have already found my soulmate and to be back on the market is very difficult to deal with."
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - find out how you can help.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2010
This time last year, I was attending the funeral, of a friend's husband, only to be attending her own funeral six weeks later. He died from a massive heart attack and she, from the cancer which had returned, originally in her breast. They left an incredibly beautiful daughter, who is the same age as my own daughter, She turned 22, three days ago.
I've known a few fairly young mothers, from my village, who have died from the cancer, which began in their breast, returning to take their life. Each lady was an inspiration to others and each left young family.
I logged into Yahoo this morning and discovered this story. It's the kind of thing which brings a tear to the eye, but also a smile to the face. What a beautiful woman this lady was.
Remembering this month and every month Janet, Sandra, Maureen and many other women and men, who may suffer cancer, ultimately losing the battle.
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home/dying-mother-left-to-do-list-husband-sons-article-huib.html
I'm leaving the thread up, even though it seems that the Yahoo Lifestyle article has been removed from the main page. There is the 100 things to do, list to see, but the article is not there. Sorry!
Apologies to The Guardian...but...
Thu 30 Sep, 2010 06:04PM BST
A dying mother left a touching "to do list" for her husband to make sure her young sons do not miss out on the treats she had dreamed of for them and are brought up as she would have wished.
Kate Greene died of cancer aged 37, leaving Finn, four, and Reef, six, but not before she had completed her "mum's manual" containing 100 "to do" points.
Included are specific experiences she wanted the boys to enjoy such as visiting the beach she loved as a child, attending an international rugby match and going to Switzerland where her husband, St John, proposed to her. She wanted to make sure they would find a four-leaf clover, learn to play a musical instrument and grow sunflowers.
See a page from 'mum's manual'
Greene decreed that the family should have a dining table so they always eat together and stipulated that both boys should be kissed goodnight twice before going to sleep.
She outlined basic principles she wanted instilled in the boys, such as always being on time, treating girlfriends with respect and making up after a row.
And she spelled out that they should not smoke, ride motorbikes or join the armed forces.
She urged her husband to find another wife so the boys would grow up with a woman.
St John Greene intends to fulfil everything on the list and has already bought a dining table for their home in Clevedon, Somerset.
He has booked flights to Egypt and plans to take the boys to Dublin to watch Ireland play England in the Six Nations.
He said: "Losing Kate was more devastating than words can describe but by carrying out all the wishes on the list we still have an emotional tie. I've already done as much on the list as possible and we plan to do the lot."
Kate Greene had 18 months of chemotherapy after finding a lump in her left breast. Her husband said: "I think towards the end we both knew Kate's time was up. We've known each other since we were children and didn't need to say the words. We just knew.
"Then one night she became really frightened she wouldn't make it through the night, we stayed up chatting and at about 4am we drew up the wishlist of things I had to do with the boys.
"Kate would carry a pen and paper around with her to note down ideas and we would stay up talking about things we wanted the boys to do.
"Before I knew it there were over three sides of A4 filled with things on the list. I've done some of them already and every time we do one we think of her."
During her final days when she became too ill to write, she would leave phone messages, which her husband dutifully recorded.
Mr Greene said the most challenging wish would be to find another partner.
"The most difficult is, without doubt, finding someone else," he said.
"I have already found my soulmate and to be back on the market is very difficult to deal with."
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - find out how you can help.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2010