In February 2015 my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and asked me to document her last weeks. Mum had an incredibly positive approach to the end of her life. It was a privilege, albeit it difficult, to document this time. She was diagnosed on 20 February, given her prognosis on 27 February and died on 8 April 2015. In addition to the weekly journal here, I also wrote a tribute to her in Flemington Kensington News, our local paper. She was well respected for her work in early childhood play and attracted a number of tributes. She is remembered for her design of the children’s playground that abuts the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Here are the posts in their weekly order:
- Bittersweet news
- The odd one out
- How do you define one day from the next when you are dying
- Playing statues
- Don’t panic
- Cheated
- Peacefully sleeping
- Goodbye Mum
- Empty space
Mum on the day she was diagnosed with terminal cancer
Mum
Mum enjoying some sunshine
Statuesque
Chatting on the phone
Mum peacefully sleeping
Mum in her last week
Crepes with lemon and sugar – a favourite
Hi Meg – I don’t know where I came across the link to these pieces of yours – we are both in Binders and Ladybirds, but when I looked I couldn’t find a post. I emailed the link to myself and now I don’t know where it came from!
I wanted to write to say how much I was moved by your writing about your Mum. My Mum died in 2011, after a very quick and intense cancer and she too was a sweetie and gave me a love of music. She responded to her diagnosis very differently and did not have a faith to comfort her but otherwise it was so familiar, and sad, and beautiful.
Hope you are doing OK. Thanks for sharing this.
xxCaroline
Thank you Caroline. x Meg