My mum was diagnosed with an aggressive, incurable brain tumour in October 2016. She was given just 3-6 months to live. I was pregnant at the time and felt my world crashing down around me but,  as would be par for the course, her strength and determination shone through when she promised me she would meet our baby girl. She wasn’t wrong. 

Mum defied the doctors, living for 20 months and having lots of precious time with all her family and friends that we didn’t think we would have. 

When she started to decline, she already knew where she wanted to be. She had told us that she wished to end her life in Wigan and Leigh Hospice, always thinking of others even in the worst possible scenario. She wanted to take the pressure off her nearest and dearest in the darkest of days. 

She was moved to the Hospice and given just 24-72 hours to live. Yet again, she defied the doctors and was there for 5 weeks. We asked people to stop visiting when the doctor said that she was not likely to live the day, yet she fought on for another 11 days. 

During those 5 weeks, Mums care was second to none, it sounds bizarre but it was like living in a bubble. The staff were bright and breezy, no request was too much to ask, and it wasn’t just the care for Mum, they looked after us too. 

For a number of days Mum had been very confused and we hadn’t been able to hold a proper conversation.  The London Marathon was on TV and she turned to me and said ‘I think you should run it next year for me, I’ll be there in spirit’. I’m not sure whether I can get away with blaming the tumour, or the drugs, perhaps she really meant it who knows...

But here we are!! 

if I have just an ounce of my Mums spirit and determination it will get me through but I still need all the help I can get. 

The Hospice really is a special place, we benefitted from their care thanks to other people’s generosity. Now it’s our turn to give others that same chance during the worst time in their lives. 

The Hospice is 90% self funded... the costs are outrageous and they receive very little government funding so please please please help out in any way that you can afford to.