Chris Davenport
Moderator
Hi Everyone,
I want to let all you all know that my darling Wendy died on Sunday after an extremely tough and brave two year fight against an illness that proved completely impossible to beat.
She was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on 1st March 2009 (my birthday). At that point we were told to "˜book your dream holiday', as very few survive this form of cancer.
One Doctor, realising she was still young with the prospect of a full life ahead of her and recognising her willingness to fight chose to help her fight and offered her a new chemotherapy drug and an operation. Initially it proved successful as she was declared free of cancer just months later.
The operation was described as one of the most complex possible and the recovery time would be very long. At first she was making great progress but just a few months later a fistula was discovered (a hole between her feed pipe and wind pipe) which meant she was unable to eat or drink anything and would have to be fed via a tube 24 hours a day. This she did for almost a year and I'm in absolute awe of how she coped with this terrible situation, especially as she was a foodie and enjoyed the occasional glass of wine.
She would spend many months in and out of various hospitals under the care of the very best Doctors and Nurses undergoing all manner of procedures, all of which had limited success.
On 19th November last year (her birthday) we were told there was no more that could be done for her and that we should prepare for the inevitable. We were all devastated, but Wendy continued to fight. With Christmas fast approaching she was determined to enjoy herself as much as possible. It was her last "˜good' day and her health deteriorated quickly after that.
The illness took every part of her and at the end, her death, whilst tragic was a release for her. She leaves behind three beautiful, intelligent children who are completely in her image and who idolise her.
I'd like to add that Wendy was a non smoker and one of the healthiest, fittest people you could meet. The word "˜unfair' doesn't begin to describe the situation!
Wendy enjoyed herself immensely accompanying and supporting me in my former role as PCGB Speedster Register Secretary and we made lots of wonderful friends and had some great memorys.
When I was considering selling the car a few months ago, it was her who told me not too!
Those who knew her will remember her as a beautiful, bright, bubbly, confident and outspoken woman with a wicked sense of humour who did not suffer fools and who seemed to draw a crowd around her wherever she went.
What she saw in me, I'll never know.
Her cremation will take place on the 14th March at Bluebell Hill Crematorium near Maidstone, Kent.
I know it's fashionable to ask for donations to a chosen charity rather than flowers, but Wendy loved flowers and after what she went through she deserves as many flowers as possible.
Thank you
CD
I want to let all you all know that my darling Wendy died on Sunday after an extremely tough and brave two year fight against an illness that proved completely impossible to beat.
She was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on 1st March 2009 (my birthday). At that point we were told to "˜book your dream holiday', as very few survive this form of cancer.
One Doctor, realising she was still young with the prospect of a full life ahead of her and recognising her willingness to fight chose to help her fight and offered her a new chemotherapy drug and an operation. Initially it proved successful as she was declared free of cancer just months later.
The operation was described as one of the most complex possible and the recovery time would be very long. At first she was making great progress but just a few months later a fistula was discovered (a hole between her feed pipe and wind pipe) which meant she was unable to eat or drink anything and would have to be fed via a tube 24 hours a day. This she did for almost a year and I'm in absolute awe of how she coped with this terrible situation, especially as she was a foodie and enjoyed the occasional glass of wine.
She would spend many months in and out of various hospitals under the care of the very best Doctors and Nurses undergoing all manner of procedures, all of which had limited success.
On 19th November last year (her birthday) we were told there was no more that could be done for her and that we should prepare for the inevitable. We were all devastated, but Wendy continued to fight. With Christmas fast approaching she was determined to enjoy herself as much as possible. It was her last "˜good' day and her health deteriorated quickly after that.
The illness took every part of her and at the end, her death, whilst tragic was a release for her. She leaves behind three beautiful, intelligent children who are completely in her image and who idolise her.
I'd like to add that Wendy was a non smoker and one of the healthiest, fittest people you could meet. The word "˜unfair' doesn't begin to describe the situation!
Wendy enjoyed herself immensely accompanying and supporting me in my former role as PCGB Speedster Register Secretary and we made lots of wonderful friends and had some great memorys.
When I was considering selling the car a few months ago, it was her who told me not too!
Those who knew her will remember her as a beautiful, bright, bubbly, confident and outspoken woman with a wicked sense of humour who did not suffer fools and who seemed to draw a crowd around her wherever she went.
What she saw in me, I'll never know.
Her cremation will take place on the 14th March at Bluebell Hill Crematorium near Maidstone, Kent.
I know it's fashionable to ask for donations to a chosen charity rather than flowers, but Wendy loved flowers and after what she went through she deserves as many flowers as possible.
Thank you
CD
