Christine Morton.

Mum was taken cruelly away from us far too soon by this horrible disease they call cancer. In July 2012 she found a lump which she was to find out was breast cancer and had spread to her bones. She didn't want us dwelling on her illness and how unfair it all was. She fought a good battle, and for someone so small, packed a real punch and that’s how we want to remember her. I have often stood back in awe at how she’s coped with the cards dealt out in her life. Grin and bear it would be the best way to describe her attitude. And she did grin, not once did we hear her moan or complain, no matter what the situation, she would always say ‘I’ll be alright’. She loved gardening, tapestry, Richard Gere, reading and the arts and was very creative. I thought of words that best describe her: strong, honest, generous, kind, funny, caring, stubborn, creative, loving and a very protective mother. Last year our family was blessed with a new addition called Harry. She amazed us at what a brilliant granny she was, Harry bought her a new lease of life and a reason to fight. But unfortunately her fight was bought to a halt in July 2014 when we were told her cancer was no longer treatable. Although we knew she had terminal cancer we thought she’d battle on for years so it was still a shock. She was given a few weeks to live and we made the most of what precious time we had left. The quickness of her decline surprised us and the amazing people we had supporting us like the lovely MacMillan nurse Caroline Boyd. We didn’t have the time to get her into St Leonard's Hospice but instead they offered us the invaluable Hospice@Home team. They provide specialist hands-on nursing care and support to patients who want to remain at home in the last few weeks of their life. It meant my sister and I could get a few hours respite and we will be eternally grateful for the help from both the Hospice and Macmillan that let us facilitate a peaceful and dignified death. I realised after she passed that I am grateful to have spent so much time with her during this last chapter of her life. We would spend hours talking about everything we could, as if we were making up for lost time. I asked her stories of our childhood, her wedding day and the days before we were born. We were blessed to be able to have these moments which we will never forget. Mum will be sorely missed—both by her family and by her many friends, whom she touched and inspired. The world is most definitely a better place because of Christine Morton.