June Harkins
7 Jun 1934–3 Sep 1998
One of the best mothers in the world died when I lost my mum in September last year. Like many other people in this world, we realise just too late how important our mothers are until they are no longer with us and we stand alone in this world. No matter how many other friends and family we have, without a mother we have nothing. My mum died at the age of 64 after a long brave struggle against breast cancer. What makes her death so unusual and tragic is that she hid the fact that she had this disease for a very long time, until it was discovered by accident one night by my father. By then, the disease had already spread to her lymph glands and bones. The Doctors tried their best with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and I guess we have to be grateful that she had two years after that which were full of lovely memories. However, in the end she succumbed. She died in a lot of pain, but it was some comfort that she was at home and surrounded by the people who love her most in the world. The local hospice and our GP tried everything in their knowledge and in their power to get her pain free, but were not completely successful. I am a nurse myself and honestly did not know that this could happen. Near the end she was begging for death to come because she could not stand the pain any longer. Her only fear was that she would not see me, my father or her grandchildren again. She slipped away quietly at home with myself on one side of her and my father on the other. Now all we have left is memories and the eternal questions of why did she not do something about it and even worse, if she had sought help earlier, would they have been able to cure her? I want anyone out there who reads this to make sure that if they or anyone they know finds any breast lump, please get it seen to immediately. If only one person does this then it would be the best memorial I could think of making to my mother. For now, when things seem very bad and I cannot imagine another day without hearing her voice or seeing her , I comfort myself with these words - When some great sorrow sweeps through your life like a mighty river, and dearest things are swept from sight forever, say to yourself each trying hour, this too will pass away. Have faith people, I know we will be reunited in our father's house, but until then, Goodnight Mum, I love you, her daughter Julie, loving husband Kenny, son in law Ali and her adored granddaughters, Siobhan, Nadia and Janna June.