u/Kizzy_Catwoman

My mother was an amazing woman. She worked tirelessly to write the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in the UK and was awarded an MBE. An achievement from a Black Windrush immigrant from Jamaica. She also ran charities and conferences to educate and highlight the diseases of Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia in the UK. She did all this while being ravaged by the Autoimmune disease of Lupus.

In the end she became frail and bed bound following serious falls and the neglect of the NHS to treat and help her. She spent her last 3 years confined to her bed in a nursing home. Her nursing home was flawless. As a specialist unit, she had more personal attention and she spent her last years adored by all who looked after her as well as her family and friends. Her dementia was slow in the early stages, but she went from conversations to passing away in just 9 months. In the end she stopped nutrition, bar a few small sips of fluid for mouth care, for 17 days. Her body shut down and she slipped away in her sleep on 27th September.

I am proud to have such an amazing role model in my life. I am glad she is no longer suffering. But I really do miss my mum.

RIEP Evonne Leonora von Heussen-Countryman MBE 🌈