My wife of just two weeks short of 50 years passed away in February of 2025. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 at the age of 34. She beat it that time and lived a full life until it again invaded her body in 2014. Again she beat it and got the ‘all clear’ in 2019.
In mid 2024 she contracted Covid for the first time but came through it but it became apparant and although unrelated that she was unwell. She started to lose weight and by September this became quite noticable. She refused to go to the GP , refused to talk about her weight loss and we went into the festive period never really mentioning it. My daughters and grandchildren all notice this weight loss but my wife refused to discuss it.
On January 22nd 2025 she asked me to take her to the doctors as she was feeling unwell. Our GP referred her that day to our local hospital who undertook tests and arranged for further blood tests later that week. We returned on Friday 31st January where further tests and scans were completed. At 1.30pm we were given the devistating news that cancer had for a third time invaded her body only this time it was in her bones. The consultant told us to go home and the Palliative care team and Oncology would contact us after the weekend to discuss ongoing support and treatment.
I was absoloutely shattered by the news but thought, ‘Well its not good news but with palliative care we at least have some time together’. My wife seemed to take it in her stride as if she knew the outcome before we visited the hospital. We both walked out of the hospital hand in hand as if we were just visitors. She showed no real outward signs of what was going on inside her.
We got home and not much was said but I did sense that she had known many weeks / months before that this invasion of her body would be the last.
On Sunday 2nd February just 48 hours after her diagnosis she took her last breath and died peacefully at home with myself beside her and my daughter and grandchildren around her. I cant help but wonder if she really did know and if she did want to protect us all from what was unravelling in her life. She had been so brave in fighting this twice I can only think that a third time was going to be to much for her. My only comfort is that it was quick, and she didnt appear to be in any physical pain but mentally I think she was tormented by this during her life. Life without a person you have loved for over 50 years is very very tough. I struggle and cry every day and I dont know if or when it will end? I was so proud to be her husband but am now even prouder of her strength throughout her illness but in particular the last few months.
Her passing to me was like a sudden death with not time for planning. I find that so very hard.
