Margaret’s Story
Margaret’s family shared their experiences of Evora, the palliative care provided by the team and the support they received during the most difficult time.
This is Margaret's story as told by her father John….
Margaret was one of four children and with three brothers to keep in check she always took the lead, looking after everyone and making sure the boys did what they were told. That was her way – always taking care of everyone, she was a wonderful daughter and sister.
She lived at home with me, and her mum and we did everything together, it was always the three of us until her mum sadly passed away in 2018. She made sure I was always well looked after and we went out for lunch, spins in the car and always enjoyed a good chat, we were great friends too. In 2012, Margaret found a lump which was later diagnosed as breast cancer. We were devastated at the news, but she was so strong and never complained. She had two operations and chemotherapy, none of that was easy. She made friends with other ladies going through the same treatment and they all helped each other. Then after one appointment she came home delighted waving a letter from the hospital, she had received the all-clear. We were absolutely delighted, and we all went out for dinner to celebrate Margaret’s good news.
Our joy was short lived when just six weeks later Margaret complained of some pain in her side, so she went to get it checked out. While at work at her job in Stormont she received the devastating news that she had a broken rib due to cancer in her bones, and there was nothing they could do. We were stunned. She was referred to the Palliative Care Team and this is when Margaret met Bernie (nurse) – ‘her guardian angel’ who would be there to listen and always offer support and advice when she needed it. Bernie helped Margaret more than she will ever know – she is an unbelievable nurse and a great listener.
During this time one of Margaret’s brothers asked her if there was anything she had ever wanted – to which she replied, ‘a convertible.’ THIS was not what any of us had expected but we decided to try and make possible. A few days later, the day she came home from the hospital, her car was in the driveway, a white Audi convertible. She was delighted and extremely excited to get out in her new car. So, every appointment she had over the coming months we took the convertible, and she would say ‘Dad aren’t we the luckiest people in the world” which sounds strange but that was Margaret, always counting her blessings.