In a few days time
it is the anniversary of my grandmother's death. She died on 15 October 2011 of
a Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer is not an easy death, ok well no death is easy
because death is not natural. But some ways to die are quick, and
semi-painless, like a plane crash or murder. But cancer makes its victim suffer
for months or even years in agony and pain, slowly deteriorating.
I wont focus on that
part of my gran's life though, it was undignified and a cruel way to die.
What I want to share
here and think about as it approaches the anniversary of her death is her
beautiful attitude and character.
When she was
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer we were all told that without fail this is a
quick and terminal cancer. There was absolutely no chance of survival. However,
instead of becoming bitter, miserable or sad because of her death sentence, my
amazing grandmother said that she wanted to be remembered as a happy person.
Thus she smiled and stayed happy and positive to the day she died. I dont want
to ever die (obviously), but if I get old or terminally ill, I want to be like
that.
Really her whole
life Elizabeth Byrne was known as kind and gentle soul. Many people I speak to
that knew her remember her with great fondness. She always had an open house,
with space always for an extra person for dinner or for a lift. She is the
person who was willing to give up her very own double bed and sleep on the
floor when she had only been married a
few months so that another newly wed couple could have a bed.
She would always be
willing to listen and to give a gentle hug.
My fondest memory of
her though will always remain the time when I was about 3 years old, she loved
shopping, and would take me with her shopping and then when returning home, we
would stand in the kitchen and unpack the shopping. And she would bring out a
cucumber and we would stand there slicing and munching cucumber. Quite possibly
this is why I am so fond of cucumber today.
I miss her terribly,
every day I think of her. Not the way some would imagine, in a frail body and
about to die, I remember her as the incredible woman she was, I think of the
photos of her younger days (way before I came on the scene) and how beautiful she
truly was, inside and out. And without a doubt in my mind, I look forwards to
the day that I can hug her again and welcome her back to life.
