Peter’s Mum
Some of you will know that Peter’s Mum has not been too good over the last 9 months and that her general health has been fading fast. When we visited her in September we were shocked to see a shadow of the person we had seen just a few months before.
A fall in the night just a couple of days after we returned to Spain after that visit resulted in her being hospitalised for a few weeks during which time it was decided that it was not wise for her to continue living on her own. Peter’s brother Richard managed to get her a place in a care home in the village of Long Stratton where he lives and when she was discharged from hospital she was able to move directly there.
When we saw her at Christmas she looked greatly improved but sadly by this time she had developed a few medical problems, her short term memory was shot to pieces and very rapidly she did not seem aware of very much around her and did not know who anyone was but she seemed contented in her own little world.
We travelled back to the UK in February as on the 20th Mum reached the grand age of 90. About 50 family members gathered at Richard and Joan’s home to celebrate this with her. Although she was a bit confused and did not show recognition of anyone we think that she was aware that we were all there for her and the reason for the gathering.
In the short time since then she has frequently indicated that she had done what she wanted and had had her party for her 90th birthday and that she was now ready to go. Sadly, she achieved that aim too when last Saturday she passed away early in the morning.
We are pleased that at the time of her death she was not alone, was not frightened, had not suffered a long painful illness and that she died quietly and with dignity.
Actual cause of death is not yet known as her death was decreed to be sudden and an autopsy has to be performed but we anticipate that it was quite simply her heart finally giving up.
Peter and I are extremely grateful to Richard and Joan for the care they have taken of Mum since they moved her up to Norfolk to live nearer to them. Without a doubt it did give her a few more years. We also thank them for arranging the party at their home for her 90th and for all they are having to do now following her death. It is a comfort to us living so many thousands of miles away to know that everything is in such capable hands.
In summary, Mum lived a good long life and is now at peace and back with Peter’s Dad, Bert, who died in 1980 and who loved dearly and has missed dreadfully.
