About Me

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I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..

Saturday 17 March 2012

Rest in Peace.......

Dear all, 

Thank you all for you words of encouragement since mum was taken into the hospice, we have read her you thoughts and explained what a large impact she has had on so many people. She took great comfort in the fact that so many people have found her words useful and people are still only just coming across the blog now and will find it useful in their individual fights over coming months and years. 

She had been deteriorating quickly over the last few days and finally got to rest in peace last night, it was a real struggle to see her in such pain over the last few days, with this in mind we can solace in the fact that she is no longer suffering. 

Once again thanks for all your support and kind words during the last two years, it is truly amazing how widespread her blog became with readers from UK, USA, Canada, Turkey, Romania, Australia and Pakistan just to name a few with a staggering 81,000+ hits on her blog since she started. 

Hopefully you all keep blogging and helping each other as I know this is what mum would want and nice to think she could create some sort of legacy to encourage others to talk openly and help each other, just letting someone else know you are thinking of them or giving them the opportunity to have a rant is a wonderful help. Nobody should have to face these struggles on their own so please help each other. 

We'll be arranging the last part of mum's journey shortly, as most of you will know she choose a beautiful place to be at peace in Epping Forest Burial Ground. Not your tradition cemetery, she choose a place that the family could look forward to visiting, just need to find a nice spot near the bluebells and a rose bush.   

Lastly I just want to thank Clapham Common Trinity Hospice for there genuine care and compassion since mum arrived, it is a truly wonderful place and ALL the staff are an inspiration. Mum's wish was to raise as much money for them as possible so please donate if you can spare a pound or two and in the future we'll be arranging some sort of fund raising activities. 







Rest in peace my sweet darling mum. 
xxxxxxxx

28 comments:

  1. Rest in Peace Carole, such a truly wonderful and amazing Lady, much love and good wishes to you all left behind xxx

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  2. So very sorry to hear this sad news. Carole was a unique lady who helped a huge amount of people simply by sharing her experience. The cancer may have taken her body, but will never take her spirit. RIP brave lady. From Nicky xx

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  3. Rest in Peace Carole.
    I wish strength to all of your nearest and dearest.
    Love and hugs to you all.

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  4. Thanks for your post and sharing those beautiful pictures with us. We feel like we have come to know Carole and all of your family through her blog. I'm so glad she got to go where and with whom she wanted around her. So little of this experience went the way she wanted, but that didn't keep her down. I can't think of any more fitting tribute to her than the fact that everyones lives she touched came away by being a better person for having known her.
    Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time.
    xoxox Carla

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  5. What a legacy your Mum Carole has given the world a beautiful family !!she gave so much help and laughter as well as the sadness,a wonderful person ,may she now rest in peace ,thinking of you all !!much lve Tony,s ma n pa xxxxxxxx Ann

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  6. Rest in peace my dear blogging friend, you so deserve to be done with the pain and struggle. I am now sending big hugs to your family and friends who will miss you tremendously. The world is a much better place for having you here if only for a short time.....:-(

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  7. I will miss reading Carole's blog. She was truly an inspiration to everyone. When she wrote on my blog always a kind words of understanding and encouragement . I especially love that Carole will find her final resting place in a non traditional way. I read about her wanting to be forever resting at Epping Forest Burial Ground , absolutely beautiful and peaceful.
    I wish the family of Carole Peace & Love and my condolences. Her pain is no more......
    Love Alicia from Canada.......XX

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  8. Dear James ((hugs))
    I am just so, so sorry for you all..poor little Dj xxx
    Your precious mum is and will always be a special and lovely lady, a true earth angel who has guided and helped so many people. My regret is that I never met her....But in a way, because of her heartfelt words I felt I knew a part of her, and for that I am truely grateful.
    James I was young..20 (not as young as your dear Dj I know) when i lost my precious mum to colorrectal cancer (sorry i can`t spell tonight) I remember what an ugly and cruel disease it is and my Dad passed away with the same disease in 2009 :( ..but as evil as it is it can never, ever take away the spirit of your mum or the deep and never ending love she felt for you all.
    `Carole..you did win your fight` Love is endless and the love you have left in the hearts of those you love will remain and it will keep them strong and shape their future`and there is nothing more important than that xx
    James and Dj ...you are a part of your lovely mum...never forget that.
    Keep strong as a family and love eachother, it will help you as time goes on.
    My heart goes ou to you all
    Love Sally xxx

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  9. Ps... James I meant to say thank you for sharing your special photos of your dear Mum and your family. They are truely beautiful, there is such love on all of your faces..
    My heart goes out to you all
    love sally xx

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  10. I will never forget your Mum xxx I lost my Mum a year ago on Mothers Day, so tomorrow and forever I will think of you all too. All my love, Alice xxxxxx

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  11. Rest in peace, Carole. And to the family I have got yo know through Carole's words, I wish you strength and peace.
    Expat

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  12. James your Mum would be so proud of your post on her blog.
    Just like her, you reach out to others. We are all going to miss her, but I am so glad I knew her. This blog will be a fitting legacy for her.

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  13. Rest in peace my friend and my rock , you have supported me so much over the last year, you are truely a very special lady who will live on in the hearts of many. God Bless stef xxx

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  14. Keep smiling Carole. Thanks for sharing these pictures, James. Your Mum is truly a beautiful lady who shared all of herself with the rest of the cancer community. I am better for it and I am deeply touched at her passing. Your mother always left the right comments on my blog to make me laugh, show me she understood, encourage me to keep going, or just to let me know she was thinking of me.

    Today I am thinking of her with a happy/sad heart. My thoughts and prayers and gratitude are with you and your family. If we in the cancer community feel like we know your family it's because Carole took such joy in all of you. What a wonderful family. Happy Mother's Day, Carole. You did an excellent job.

    Love, Steve

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  15. Katherine (Jane Last on Facebook)18 March 2012 at 14:47

    Thank you so much, James, for the wonderful tribute to your mum. Although we never met in person, I came to think of Carole as one of my dearest friends. I shall keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Much love to you all. xxxx

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  16. carole meant so much to so many and she will continue shinning brightly !!a truely fab mum ,daughter, sister,and friend, a great help to the many followers on her blog ..i came across her blog when reading my brother tony songhursts blog thoughs are with you all xxx jane xx

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  17. Love and hugs at this time for a truly wonderful lady, she will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone. She leaves her family memories of humour, of honesty, of caring for others, of never giving up and above all of dignity in the face of great adversity. xxx

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  18. Dear James and Dj
    just a short little message (as ive written before) I just wanted to send you both lots of love for Mothers day. I been thinking of you all day.
    Always remember that nothing can ever take away your Mums love for you both, it is endless.

    Also love to Rab and all of Caroles family..I keep thinking of her poor mum and Dad aswell.
    Stay close to eachother
    Much love
    sally xxxx

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  19. I am so very sorry to hear Carole's battle has ended. She has been an inspiration to all who read her blog and her posts on our Forum. We at Beating Bowel Cancer wish you all our best wishes. RIP Carole.
    Mark Flannagan, CEO, Beating Bowel Cancer

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  20. Thank you for such a beautiful post. I am so sad your mom is gone. I know she wanted just a bit more time. You have honored her wonderfully here. Peace for you all.

    lrs

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  21. So shocked to here she has passed! She was such a help to me and will never forget her. I wish you all nothing but the best and that you can hold onto all the good about her. Thank you for sharing pictures. She surely will rest in peace with where she will be laid. I am grateful she shared that decision with us, I had never heard of that before and it sounds lovely.I don't know how blogs work but I hope it is able to stay up to help others who have to go down this cancer road. Hugs to you all!

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  22. Comfort and strength-my wish for everyone who loved her so much.

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  23. James, your Mom was an inspiration to me many times...once when I thought I hit bottom in my journey. Strong, kind, helpful and loving - clearly you got the best of her, not the cancer. All my love to your family, Ang of Ang's Journey

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  24. Sending your family much love. Keep the good memories close to your heart xoxo - your Momma was a brave and inspirational lady. So sad I only got to blog with her for such a short time, it was truly meaningful.

    Erinne

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  25. James, This is so incredibly sad- I don't know what to say-your mum was such a kind and lovely person. So sensible and good at giving down to earth advice! Your mum thought the world of you and she often said; long before her illness; how thoughtful you are and I know that she appreciated everything you did. You and Dj made your Mum so happy and proud. I'm sure she rested easier in the certainty that Dj will have his Dad, you and Leanne to help him through this difficult and confusing time. Part of your mum lives on, not only in your memories & in her blog but also in you and Dj, who are your mum's special legacy.

    Thinking of you all,

    Rina, Thomas & Kirstin

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  26. After trying to find Carole i was shocked that she had passed on.My condolences to the family....Cookie,from school.

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