RIP Mum and Dad. Together forever. 15 August 2014

Hilda was a wonderful Mum, my Mummy, and loving wife to my Dad Eric.  She passed away on Saturday 31 October 2009, soon after her 83rd birthday after a long battle with breast and then bone cancer.  She spent the last few days of her life in the Eden Valley Hospice, a tranquil place with people who really care - and make a difference.

Her last day was spent outside in the garden, with the sun on her face, the wind in her hair, with Eric, Sarah, her gorgeous granddaughter Baby Ellen and I by her side. 

I am humbled by the love my Dad has for my Mum and the 63 years they were married and 70 years they knew each other. 

We are not wanting flowers at the funeral on Friday 6 November, rather, if you are so inclined and wish to express your condolences, please give to the Eden Valley Hospice, who continue to care for others in such need.

And say a little prayer for Hilda.

15 August 2014:

My Dad Eric has now also passed away, on Friday 15 August 2014.   He was at the Eden Valley Hospice, just like my Mum had been, and I was with him, as was his sister, brother in law and my wife Sarah. He went peacefully, outside in the sunshine. 89 years old after a wonderful life.

His last 5 years were hard since my Mum died in 2009, Dad missed Hilda immensely.  He would choke when we spoke of her, even after 5 years.  They had the most beautiful life together encountering wonderful people and beautiful places all over the world.

2014 was a difficult year for my Dad, he fell in January while perched on a wall and broke a couple of ribs cutting the branches off his Cherry tree in the garden.  He recovered, but could not make it out to France as planned for our daughter Ellen's 5th birthday.  He did take her to her first ever cinema when we came to Carlisle instead "Walking with Dinosaurs".  He was still fit and cycling into Carlisle, shopping at Aldi and Morrisons. 

He had been ill recently, he became breathless in April / May 2014 and was diagnosed with Anaemia.  Together with Grace Hilda Taylor (our 2 year old daughter born on the same day as my Mum had been 85 years earlier, 31 October) we travelled back from France and saw him for his birthday in Carlisle on 24 May.  He was still pretty ok, but breathlessness meant he could not cycle into Carlisle as he had been doing until then. He went for B12 injections and then blood transfusions. In late July he collapsed and was taken to hospital for treatment.  I came back with our Ellen Joy Taylor to see him on Saturday 26 July, he was poorly and under heavy duty antibiotics for Neutropenic Sepsis. We stayed with him till Tuesday 29 July, heading back to Paris to come back with the family on Wednesday 30 July for the month of August to be with him.

He wanted out of hospital and came out on Friday 1 August. It became clear tyhat he had acute Leukeamia and a bone marrow failure.  He vowed not to go back in, he had hated it, and we took him home to his and Mum's house, Little Bank.  I was told he had a matter of months to live, likely Leukaemia. He said then that he wanted to spend the weekend with his three grandaughters and then die on Monday. We had a good Saturday, he saw his three grandaughters (Ellen (5), Grace (2) and Charlotte (1)) ate at Morrisons, but then on Sunday Dad deteriorated and it seemed he was going to die.  During that Sunday night he shouted out to me at 5am and I rushed through from my childhood room, thinking those would be his last words, but they were not, instead he said "David, I am feeling better!"  He was indeed, and for the next 8 days though caring for him most of the day and night, he was able to get up and eat fish and chips, and get about briefly each day, and above all spend time with his cherished granddaughters.

As we wondered and worried how he would cope when we left at the end of August to return to France, home versus caring, Dad in his own style and not wishing to put anyone out as alwaysr, resolved the situation deteriorating rapidly on the night of Tuesday 12 August and the Doctor advised that Wednesday morning to get him to the hospice where he had said wanted to die. We were with him for the two days and nights.  He died beautifully, in peace, to be with his beloved Hilda, my Mum. Together forever.

Eden Valley Hospice is a special place.  The care they took of Dad and Mum before him received whilst there was truly wonderful.  I wish to thank every one there from the bottom of my heart, which aches as I write this today.

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