Susan Russell
Susan is an occupational therapist. Marie Curie cared for her sister Fiona in 2011 after Fiona was diagnosed with cancer. Susan talks about what it was like to look after Fiona in her sister's final weeks.
"My sister passed away on 30th November 2011 at my house. She wasn’t married, had no children and I was her only sister. We were exceptionally close, although she had many friends.
"She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2004. She had chemotherapy thereafter and then a mastectomy in July 2005. We were told then that the cancer was likely to come back which was the worst day in the whole cancer journey we endured. She then put that behind her and continued to live her life as fully as she had done previously.
"She had reconstructive surgery in October 2007. In June 2008 after suffering from terrible pain in her back, she collapsed in London and was admitted to hospital with metastatic tumours in her spine. She then received radiotherapy and further chemo. She made a remarkable recovery from this and was able to walk and ski much to everyone’s amazement.
"However, the cancer was beginning to resist treatment and getting worse. In April 2011, she was diagnosed with brain secondaries and received radiotherapy. She felt quite unwell and was admitted to hospital and was offered a bed at the hospice but refused to entertain the idea. Her team of palliative care doctors and her nurse were fantastic. Her consultant described her as ‘inspirational’.
"In November 2011, however, we were told gently that there was very little that could be done to help. She came home to our house and, although she fully intended to go home, she became weaker and myself, my mum and I looked after her. We had support from a Macmillan nurse which was very helpful in talking about the things we didn’t want to talk about - but needed to – such as funeral arrangements and her will. Fiona was able to express her wishes.
"We were supported by the local GP with whose support – and that of district nurses – we were able to continue to care for her at home. Although Fiona didn’t talk about where she wanted to be, I knew she wanted to be with us and not in a hospice. She had managed to avoid being in a hospice for so long and we, as a family, wanted her to be at home where she wanted to be.
"The Marie Curie Nurse – as I said before – came in at the very last minute on the night she died. If she hadn’t been with us it would have been difficult although we could have called the district nurses. It wouldn’t have been the same, however, as we would have been on our own in a very distressing situation. The Marie Curie Nurse took control and was able to reassure us all that what had happened was to be expected. We were very lucky to have her with us as we had not expected the end to come on the night she first arrived.
"My sister was inspirational in the way she dealt with her illness. She was very positive and never complained about what she had to go through. She lost her hair three times, had surgery twice and was still determined to beat the disease and live life to the full. Her smile lit up a room, she had a huge laugh, loved friends, loved socialising, loved her family and loved her life that was cut short far too early at 49. She is missed by a great many people."