I will try to keep this updated regularly to let people know how things are going
I have published Miranda's service, details of her charity fund and some other details here.
print of service etc.
Thursday 8th July morning
Miranda has cancer, probably in several places. It is incurable and she won't be having any operations.
It may be possible to have some treatment that will slow down the tumours.
She is in Ward 22 Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW
She has her phone with her 07800 860257. Please don't phone that number, but you could possibly send a text. Flowers are probably impractical on the ward. Our house phone is 01509 881146.
She is keen for people to know that the doctor thought this was unrelated to her breast cancer from 6 years ago.
When we were on holiday in Crete, she had a bit of swelling in her stomach and started to feel uncomfortable, so she saw her GP as soon as she got back which would have been around 20th June. She saw a consultant on 30th June, by which time her stomach was quite badly swollen. He wanted a scan done as soon as possible and admitted her to hospital as the quickest way to get that done. On Sunday 4th July we saw a doctor to discuss the results and were told that she had tumours in several different places that were not curable.
She is currently having treatment to reduce the swelling in her stomach, which is caused by the tumours producing fluid. She has a drain fitted, but at the moment this doesn't seem to be doing more than keeping pace with the fluid production. She has medicine to stop the production of fluid, but as yet no sign of it working, possibly because she is constantly sick.
At the moment she is quite weak and uncomfortable. This probably is caused mostly by the swelling, so we hope that if they can get that under control, she will start to feel better and may be able to come home.
We are expecting results of some tests which will tell us more about the nature of the tumours maybe tomorrow (we have learnt not to rely too much on what people say will happen when) and these should give an idea of how quickly things will develop and whether any treatment can be given to slow them down. For now, we are less concerned about that than getting her well enough in the next few days to be able to eat and be a bit more comfortable.
Thursday 8th July evening
Hugh and I visited this afternoon and she was very tired. The doctor had said, this morning, that she should be home within a week, but I'm afraid that didn't look very likely to us. Sam is visiting this evening.
Friday 9th July evening
Things have moved very quickly today. This morning we arranged for her to be transferred to a hospice and hoped that they would be able to help her symptons for a while, then she would come home for her last days.
When I visited this afternoon she was much worse and I feared even that plan was over optimistic. I have spoken to the doctor and he agrees. She has been moved to a private room and I think she may not make it through the night.
Will is there now and Sam and Hugh are on their way. I will go in and plan to stay with her. The boys may do the same.
Saturday July 10th afternoon
Miranda died at 11:30 this morning. I was there with Sam, Hugh and Will.
She had a reasonably comfortable night, but this morning was hard.
We are all back at Church Street now and wondering what to do next. It's nice that the boys and I are together.
News about the funeral will follow when we know.
We all feel she had a good life and we think she didn't die with too many regrets about things left undone.
Philosophy is all very well, but we miss her.
Monday morning
We are making plans for the funeral, which we think will be on Friday in Wymeswold. We plan to drink beer in the Three Crowns and all are welcome. I will put more details here when we have more definite plans.
Monday afternoon.
provisional plans below. We are waiting for official paperwork from the hospital, so please note that we cannot confirm anything until we have these. I will post here as soon as I know it is confirmed. THESE PLANS ARE NOW CONFIRMED.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN'T BE HERE. Scroll down to below the pictures for a plan.
Miranda’s funeral will be on Friday.
The official funeral will be at Loughborough crematorium at 8.45 in the morning.
There will be a non religious memorial in St Mary’s Church Wymeswold at 4.00 followed by drinks and a buffet in the Three Crowns.
We expect to have a minimum of ceremony at the crematorium and imagine that just myself and the boys will be there, though, of course anyone who wants to attend is welcome.
We feel that the memorial service is what is important to us and invite everyone to attend that.
Miranda, myself and the boys are not religious, but felt that the church was the right place to commemorate Miranda’s life, and Wymeswold’s vicar Mary Samuel has kindly agreed to let us use the church for a non religious memorial. I hope that those of you who are religious will get some comfort from the setting.
We will then go over the road to the Three Crowns for a few drinks with a bit of food and will keep “open house” at 26 Church Street for the rest of the day.
It would be lovely to fill the church and the pub.
If you can't make the church, by all means just come to the pub, and if you can't make either, then you are welcome to call into the house later.
I imagine most people won't dress formally.
Miranda will be in the chapel of rest at the funeral directors on Thursday from 10 til 4. The boys and I don't feel we will visit, but anyone would be welcome. It is Swanns, Bridge Street, Loughborough.
We should be able to find somewhere to stay for anyone who is travelling – we have some space here and friends have offered spare beds as well. Let me know if you would like to be here for the Thursday and/or Friday nights. If you are staying, please bring as much as you easily can by way of bedding.
If you arrive early, please come to the house it would be nice to see people if you can make it before the service. We might even find you jobs to do.
People have been talking about their memories of Miranda and I think it would be a nice idea to have some of these written down. If you would like to write a few words about something you remember of her - trivial or important - email them to me dave@noblecustom.co.uk and we will maybe read some of them at the service. I am not imagining eulogies - just some random memories.
People have asked about flowers. She would have preferred a donation to her favourite charity which is "Practical Action" who help provide workable technological solutions to the causes of poverty. You can find out about the charity and make a donation if you wish by following this link.
Miranda's charity donation page
I have published Miranda's service, details of her charity fund and some other details here.
print of service etc.
I know several people will find it very difficult to be here on Friday and that some are considering changing their plans so they can make it. Miranda would hate to think she was spoiling people's holidays! We will arrange a get-together later for people who can't be here. In maybe 2 or 3 weeks we will have a memorial evening at the house and mark her passing with those who can't be here on Friday. Just let me know and I will keep a list of people to invite when the time comes.
back to home page