A Beautiful Death

Tessa Jowell, the British MP died from a brain tumour yesterday. She was 70 years old and only diagnosed a year ago.

Today, I am listening to the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2. They were talking about her ‘beautiful death.’ It was very peaceful and she was surrounded by her family. It was how we all want to go when our time comes. A discussion then ensued and people called in telling about their own experiences. Some of them good and some not.

I listened as a lump appeared in my throat and my eyes prickled, because if you have lost someone you immediately think about their deaths. It’s the first time I have almost been moved to tears as I thought about my parents who died in 2010.

Dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and died within 8 months. On the day he was taken into hospital, Mum collapsed and was also taken in. On September 2^nd he died and on the 24^th, she joined him. So for me their deaths have almost become one.

I wasn’t there when Dad’s passed away, but my brother was, and he informed me it was peaceful. I had seen him only the day before and hugged him, told him I loved him, and his reply was that we had all been wonderful daughters. That was my dad unselfish to the end.

Mum went downhill quickly and eventually had a stroke she didn’t recover from. We were by her bedside to say our final goodbye. She was surrounded by love as she took her last breath.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day in America and so I saw many posts of people honouring their mothers. It doesn’t affect me anymore, not as did in the early days. I think of the memories of my parents with a smile, and only occasionally shed a tear.

Love your parents and your grandparents and enjoy every day you have with them, because you never know what it round the corner or when their time will come.