The Last Chapter

enjoyed our Paul’s visits, however he was suffering with a variety of things, he was told he had leukaemia, and later on got lumps under his arm, his breathing wasn’t good either. Our Paul was a very quiet, private person and you never heard him complain about his illness. Eventually he went into hospital in July 2012, he was on oxygen and morphine for the pain he had in his chest. They done various tests, then told him he had cancer in his lungs and there was nothing they could do for him. It was a terrible shock to us all, when he died on the second of August he was 59yrs. He was a beautiful person inside and out, and we all miss him so much.

  My own health is going downwards, I have developed arthritis in my legs. Marie stays in bed a lot because she doesn’t sleep much of a night. I’m head cook and bottle washer, sometimes it’s tough but we manage to get by, we get a lot of help off Anne and her family. John & Viv are living in Maghull now and have been down to help us. Bobby takes me to the P.O. and for shopping, I miss my car a lot, but beggars can’t be choosers, I have to rely on the family. At the time of writing this it is 2012 and both our healths have deteriated. Marie had a serious of mini strokes approx. 6 years ago and I am her carer. Our Anne has been great and has been a big help to me, I don’t think I could have managed without her. Tommy comes on Tuesdays and Fridays and stays the night, this is because Marie has had a few falls and I can’t lift her sometimes. Since I’ve been looking after Marie I’ve had to stop going to the art classes, I do miss everyone they were all good people. I paint at home and still love it.

  One time I went in hospital it was with chest pains and we thought it was angina, but after a load of tests they said it was a stone, apparently I had two. They performed a minor operation and took one out with a camera. The other one is still there and the doctor said in view of my age it would be better left, but they would keep an eye on it, that was 5yrs ago and I’ve been back once since then. Another time I went into hospital was because I was jaundiced, I had an operation on my stomach they put stents in my gall bladder. That was in 2011, unfortunately they said they had found something sinister. However we’ve been to see Claire Byrne at the hospital several times since then and thank god I’ve been fine.

  Our grandson Lee has had a daughter and she is a lovely little girl, john and viv bring her down as often as they can. Our other grandson Richard is also expecting a baby son with his wife Janine in October. Our Warren and his wife Cathy have three children Eva, Jake & Libby (Warren delivered her in the bathroom). Our Stella is married to mike and has Niamh and Aaron. Our Ryan is with Kerry and has three girls Ellie , Zoe & Emily. Our Mark has 2 boys Austin and Harrison. Our Tracy is married to Matt and has 3 boys Thomas, and the twins Ben and Sam. Our Michelle has 2 girls Amy and Sophie. Our Mandy has Olivia. They are all beautiful.

  At the time of writing this it’s January 2013. I have an appointment in March to see Claire Byrne at the hospital. The last time I was in hospital, the family converted the house, so we are now on the flat, sleeping downstairs, it’s much better for us.