MUM'S FINAL WISH CAME TRUE

With the help of one special charity, Kelly Machen, 44, was able to say goodbye to her beloved mum on the family's terms

- FRANCES LEATE

When my mum was told she had pancreatic cancer in November 2020, it was a huge shock for everyone, we struggled to take it all in and Mum was completely stunned by the unexpected diagnosis. But with a glint of determination in her eyes, our mum, Jacqui, then 66, turned to me and my sister, Emma, then 38, and said she was going to fight it, and we promised to help her, every step of the way.

Even a week later, when her oncologist told her she had just nine to 12 months to live, she never lost her resolve. Mum was scared, and we were too, but as a family, we tackled the next few months head-on.

Mum had always been the one to care for us, and the sudden role reversal was a huge change. Family-orientated, Mum had lived for her children – me, Emma, and our older brother, Brad, then 43. She'd spent her working life as a social worker caring for others, and she adored dogs. Over the years, she'd had countless Pomeranians, owning 13 at the same time at one point, and even entered them into dog shows. Although Mum and Dad, Donald, then 69, had officially separated, they remained close and still shared the home they'd lived in for more than 40 years.

In her retirement, Mum doted on her three grandchildren, going on caravan holidays and bathing the dogs. 'I love you all, the world and round again,' she'd tell us all constantly. But now, it was our turn to take care of her, and when, in January 2021, she started a course of chemotherapy – with the hope it may prolong her life – Mum quickly became very thin, and was physically sick and exhausted. Me and Emma didn't hesitate to care for Mum, taking time off work and taking it in turns to sleep beside her at home every night. More than anything, we wanted Mum to survive, even though the odds were against us, and for her to know we were there with her.