Letter

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 500, 24 August 1993, Page 11

Letter

• Friday 27 August is 'Daffodil Day' - a celebration of the first flowers of Spring and a day on which the Cancer Society asks for the help of each community to support the Cancer Society working quietly in their midst. Two years ago my husband was found to have cancer in his oesophagus. From the very first the local branch of the Society helped and supported with information and supplying a special food supplement he needed. As time went on we spent weeks at Taumarunui and Waikato hospitals and the Society paid for me to stay in the Nurse's hostels and gave petrol vouchers to our family to visit their falher and grandfather. It meant a lot to Merv to have his family around him whilst he was in these strange environments. As time went on it became apparent that this cancer wasn't going to be cured. We came home and after a short period in Waimarino Hospital we were helped to set up a unit in our living room and Merv spent the last three weeks of his life being cared for by hospice nurses with all the equipment supplied by the local Cancer society. I have read that the greatest gift to give a dying person is to nurse him in his own home, surrounded by his loved ones. This was made possible for us by the Cancer Support Group, the hospital and the district nurse and doctor. Let us all contribute on 'Daffodil Day', so that the work of the Cancer Society in research and in the support of those suffering from this cruel condition, may continue. S J Anderson.