Dorothy Parkinson (nee Bell)  who was born August 1930 in Salford to Ethel and Walter Bell and died on 11th May 2012 with her loving family by her side.   A devoted loving, hard working and loved dear wife to Ive (Ivor), mum to Janice and Ken, nan to Clare and Drew and loving aunty, sister in law and friend to all.  

Dot was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis many years ago and later with Sjogrens’s syndrome also known as Mikulicz disease and Sicca syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva.  She also suffered with Mixed connective tissue disease, Emphysema, Asbestosis, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension.  In 2003 she wasn’t feeling too good and as usually thought she would ‘wash the car’ to try and work off her feeling unwell.  She suffered a severe Heart Attack and had a stint operation shortly afterwards.  More recently in April 2012 even though she was now virtually house bound, she was feeling unwell again and after being admitted to hospital she had suffered a pulmonary embolism.

During her last few weeks she suffered two severe nose bleed due to her medication and was hospitalised.  Her final days that remained we watched her deteriorate rapidly it was so incredibly quick,  finally we found that her blood was seriously thin and she was taken into hospital where we told she was very poorly lady, she had a kidney infection, she had pneumonia, oedema and she lost her battle to stay with us. During all this endurance she fought so bravely and courageously with dignity and fight to overcome her illnesses.  Her breathing which had prevented her from having a quality life the last twelve months was a huge battle in its self, but throughout all of these illness her fun loving determined, caring, loving character would shine through, even in her last conscious hours.   God Bless you mum will love and miss you forever!   You will be always in our thoughts, sleep peacefully xxxxx

If you read Dot’s story please help and donate as much or as little as you can, we need to know more about this awful debilitating disease.