Farewell

This will be the final entry in Anne's blog.  In her first entry, Anne wrote "so the journey begins."  Over the past 4 years Anne gave us the privilege of sharing her journey.  Now her journey is at an end.

In her first blog entry, Anne quoted the prophet Isaiah:

 "those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
 They will soar on wings like eagles"

She is now soaring as the eagles, free from the disease which dominated so much of the past few years.

As a family, we were overwhelmed by the number of people who made the journey to attend the service of Thanksgiving at Barkham Church. It was clear to everyone that Anne had touched so many lives, often (or perhaps usually) in a way which went unnoticed to everyone else.

Now we must adjust to life without Anne. What better way to do that than with the words of the poem which Anne sent to her siblings on the first anniversary of the death of their mother:


You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.


Paul, Josh, Chloe & Ben.

Thanksgiving service

We would like to give you more details about the thanksgiving service on Friday. It is at 11am, at Barkham st James's church (RG40 4PL post code for satnavs). We will be having coffee and cake following the service in the village hall opposite. As it is a thanksgiving service not a funeral, there is no dress code - (Chloe: I will be wearing purple!). If you are able, please try and share cars to help with the parking. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Anne-please give to kidney research UK http://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/donate .  

Sad news

We are sorry to have to let you know that despite treatment over the weekend, Anne continued to be very weak and passed away on Monday morning. She had suffered bravely for many years, but is now at home with The Lord in a place with no more suffering or tears.


As a family we would like to thank everyone who has supported Anne and us throughout her journey.

We are planning a service of thanksgiving at Barkham church on Friday the 19th at 11am, to which you are all welcome.

Paul, Josh, Chloe and Ben

Hospital again

Just quick post to let you know I am back in hospital. My hb is low so I need a transfusion and my calcium is too high. Please pray. 

December begins.

My week hasn't quite gone as planned. Paul arrived back from London at 1am on Friday night to find me being very very sick. Not at all what you need at 1 am! I then slept until 5am when it started again and continued all day. I felt very poorly, considering contacting the hospital. Just the thought of 4 hours in A&E followed by a night on AMU really put me off. By Sunday I was feeling a little better - although completely exhausted by no food. I couldn't manage the stairs which meant no bath so Paul and I tackled the joys of a bed bath instead. We managed without soaking me or the bed which was a great achievement. I have been very tired but slowly improving since Saturday and thankful I have managed to stay at home. Being sick is awful because I am struggling so hard to eat and then I am sick and all that effort seems such a waste! 
I can't believe it is already the beginning of December - I have started my internet shopping and my Christmas cards will be here soon. Christmas plans have been made with short visits for me. 
On Sunday I had the delight of sharing the morning service from church via my iPad. It was so lovely to see everyone and listen to Julian speak - while watching him. Thank you so much to those involved who were so kind to make that work. I miss you all very much. The joy of being part of a church family can't be measured. 
So the rest of the week involves coffee with friends, a blood test and an appointment with the consultant for results. Please pray for a good plan. 

A busy bee!

Wow! What a busy morning. Kitty arrived at 10.30'so we had time for a little chat before leaving for the hospital. I had an abdominal ultrasound looking specifically at my liver and a ct scan of my chest and abdomen. The results of the ultrasound are known straightaway. They showed that the one secondary we knew about is still there but about the same size. But she can also see 2 other suspicious areas - not helped that I have a naturally fatty liver from treatment I have had. ( sounds rather unkind to call my liver fatty!!!!!) apart from that we now wait until Friday 5 th December for the rest of the results and for any change in the treatment plan. My blood results were very good and show stable calcium, stable kidneys and normal other results which is great news for continuing denosumab. I am very pleased about that. It has also been great not to have been sick all week. 
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers today. Your messages have certainly helped us get through the day. 

Denosumab here we come.....

This week has been a week of recovery. The bug seems to have completely gone ( well no high temperatures or flu like symptoms anymore) I have had a slow week mainly having coffee with friends and making. But at least I have achieved something and feel that the week has had purpose. As ever catching up with friends is a joy and leaves me plenty to weigh up in my heart after they have gone. It also gives me new areas to pray for and to be more specific in my prayer life, something I have been learning more recently. God is concerned about everything about our lives even the little things but we need to talk to him. He likes us to bring our requests to him but to be specific  when we can. I am so grateful to all of you who pray for me. 
My blood tests from yesterday ( thank you L for your help) seem stable so I think the denosumab will go ahead today. As you can imagine I do it with some trepidation as last time I ended up in hospital after 10 days. I was also very, very sick on the evening of the denosumab. So now we try again. I am taking regular calcium tablets (9 huge chalky tablets a day) and vitamin d tablets which help the absorption of calcium. I have 3 different anti-sickness tablets which I can use. So the only way we can know if I can do this ..... Is to do it! 
Kitty is coming to take me to the hospital which is lovely and will definitely help keep my mind off what I am doing. I haven't seen her for a few weeks although I do speak to her every day. I am also looking forward to talking to my girlie later as she came back late last night from 4 days in Rome. We have had no contact - my choice as I wanted her to go away and not think about me at all. We promised to phone only of there was an emergency. I am sure she will have loved it. 
The weekend remins unplanned as we don't know how I am going to feel. I hope you all have cosy weekend plans.