As many of you will know Julie passed away in the early hours of Wednesday 20th February. She continued to fight the cancer with courage and humour until the end. Her pain from the tumour in her back has been complex and the doctors needed to tweak the drugs to try and keep it under control right up to the end. Whilst she had hoped that her stay in the hospice would be a short one (5 - 10 days) to get the pain under control she felt safe with the staff of the hospice being around 24hrs a day. We would all like to thank everyone who has looked after her since coming home from hospital in Octob ..read more

The hospice has been managing to sort out my pain which is good and we had everything sorted out for me to go home on Monday. It took a while to sort out everything since we needed to find a new care company, but eventually that was sorted out and i met them here as well as them going to check that everything was ok at home. It was so last Friday everything was in place. But over the weekend i felt worse. I became a lot more tired and started sleeping most of the day and needed more help eating and drinking. So i am still here enjoying the hospitality at St Peters Hospice. Whilst it would be ..read more

Well I am still here. The drugs have been altered a couple of times and the pain is getting better, but my shoulder still has niggles, and I have slept well for most nights. However its not perfect and I am tired today because I didn't sleep again last night. For a few days my eyesight was getting worse but that does seem to be getting better again. They would like to make sure things are still better for a few days so I will probably be going home again early next week. The hospice has been great, the staff are all really helpful and I have had 3 showers since coming in  (the first sinc ..read more

The pain has been getting worse over the last week or so and it doesn't want to go away even though i have been taking more drugs. So they have arranged for me to stay at St Peters Hospice for a few days. This is so that they can try to find the right type and quantity of drugs to stop the pain but without causing me to see things and be so forgetful. I am really nervous about being here but i am sure it is the right thing and hoping that i will feel a bit more normal in a few days. Everyone here is really friendly and they have already started making some changes but i am not sure what they w ..read more

Last weekend I was looking forward to going out for a Cream Tea at Patisserie Valerie which was a Christmas present but I was in too much pain to get in my wheelchair. So that had to come to me instead and we had a good cream tea in the house. On Sunday I did manage to get out for lunch and had a good day. On Monday Specsavers came to the house to do an eye test and I now have some new glasses on order which should help me to read better. My eyesight has been getting worse and with the wheelchair I cant go to the shops very easily but their home service was great. After that the pain got wors ..read more

Still wanting to fight but I don't know why sometimes. Had a brilliant day shopping in Swindon in the week and managed to get Sophie a bag and purse and I got a nice watch. It was a good day with Sally, Sophie, mum and Katie and we saw Sarah up there as well. Had a good lunch out as well and really enjoyed being away for a good trip but it left me very tired. Have had a new carer in the mornings who has been great and doesn't rush me but we are still trying to sort it out long term since she can only make one visit a day. We have had night care for a few nights who have helped out when I ..read more

Christmas has been really good. Its been great to see both girls pick up on my traditions.  I have always really enjoyed stockings with lots of small items in from the usual sweets and nuts to useful presents socks, de-icer etc. This year I haven't been able to go shopping but the girls have carried on my tradition and did stockings for each other as well as John, Jack and the dogs. I really enjoyed opening them on Christmas morning. After the stockings we opened the rest of the presents before having breakfast and then having to clear up the mess. We started eating for Christmas at ..read more

Merry Christmas everybody! It's Christmas eve and I've made it! Celia is writing this message as writing for me these days is very hard, but I am pleased that people want to read the blog so I'm determined to send a message. I'm looking forward to spending special time with my family who I just couldn't have managed without, they all help me cope. Time with them is invaluable. I have some incredible friends who have not left my side and I've recently spent time with each of them too. Wishing you all a great Christmas. Be happy and enjoy every moment. Each day make sure you find something to s ..read more

 Well, Mr Herbert said there was a chance I could make Christmas, with six days to go I am still here! I must say it is not the most pleasant of cancers, last night was particularly un pleasant as the cancer was very, very painful in my back. You never know how the nights are going to be, last night was a real hum dinger! Having pain shooting through your left arm constantly all night was truly awful, luckily I had John and Sally here as we are trying to work out my sleep pattern as I'm also not sleeping at night. I was told by Sally that I was disorientated, which I really don ..read more

Since the tumour in my spine was diagnosed I have said I wanted to make Christmas and although the consultant didn't sound convinced (he said it would be a good goal) I now feel sure that I will be here for Christmas. I am finding it really hard and understand how people loose their fight without really meaning to. The longer it goes on the harder it gets both mentally and physically. I am awake a lot in the night thinking about all sorts of things and it takes me a long time to wake up properly in the morning but even after breakfast I still feel rubbish and tired. As the day goes on&nbs ..read more