Our wonderful Julie, jij or jijie as she was known was sadly diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in September 2017 after a few months of being unwell. Our hearts sank when we found out and Jij's life was hurled into darkness. Jij had so much love for everyone, her and her wonderful Husband Keith lived in a cottage on a farm and Julie had many pet sheep, that for years she had visited twice a day. Jij and Keith never had their own children, But she was a perfect mum, to her sheep Fluff and Scruff, Sandy, Jenny, Squeaky, Bobby and Eddie and Ruby were just a handful of them. They were her world.

Jij started chemotherapy in September and put up such a fight throughout the treatment. The chemo was really hard and she became quite unwell having to have a few visits and stays in the hospital throughout. This included an A & E  visit just before Christmas lunch was served. She joked about this and said that she just wanted to thank the nurses for all their hard work on this day so had to come in.... However, Jij continued to fight through it and finally finished her chemo on the 10th January. This was followed up by a scan and at the beginning of February. The battle through chemo had paid off. Although, the cancer was not cured , her scan showed no evidence of the disease, we were all overjoyed and this put her in a good place to have follow up radiotherapy to her chest and brain, which took place mid February.

Jij began to get some strength back and was able to help my Brother and I with the sheep on most days and we all began to see her beautiful smile and loving nature daily. We had a lovely January and February and were able to help Jij with lambing, each time a new lamb was born you could see the happiness glow from her. It was lovely that she had the strength to be there for lambing. She was also talking about making plans to return to work in the next few weeks.

Mid to late February Jij began to get pain in her back and initially put this down to lambing season and laying on a radiotherapy bed for two weeks. As this progressed, her consultant ordered a bone scan, but unfortunately the back pain become rapidly worse and once again she had to be ambulanced to the hospital. An emergency MRI showed that the cancer had spread to her spine, the next day she was given more emergency radiotherapy. Her mobility was decreasing and now she was having to use a walking frame to get around the ward. After nearly two weeks in hospital Jij came home. We had made a few adaptions to home to make it easier for her to get around. I will never forget the happy tears she cried that day to be home with Keith and her cat Bubbles. About 1 week later she became very unwell again, but was desperate to avoid hospital, she deteriorated through out the evening and yet again emergency services were called and she was taken to hospital with Sepsis. She remained in hospital for 11 days and during this time was trying to get a bed at the hospice for symptom control and to help support the family. On the day of discharge a bed became available at the hospice and Julie transferred there. This was a very emotional day , but Julie had insisted that she felt a short stay here would help us all. The plan was for 7 - 10 days. Jij had some phyiso and then got a chest infection. The doctors and nurses cared for her and as the chest infection eased we all began to put measures in place for her to return home the following week. In this time she also had a routine scan, we went for the results  of this on Friday 27th April, a week earlier than planned. In the last week Jij's mobility had rapidly deteriorated and her pain was increasing. It was devastating seeing her transfer from one place to another. Although, she had so, so much determination to keep moving and fighting. This was the hardest day since diagnosis, the consultant told us that she didn't feel Julie would manage  the radio therapy treatment due to her pain and that this would only be short term relief for the pain. The cancer had also metastasised in other areas and therefore she was too unwell for chemotherapy. The hurt and pain that her and Keith were feeling during in this appointment was overwhelming, watching the tears rolling down their cheeks was heart-breaking...... how could this happen so quick.

Jij was the most endearing person I know, she had so much love for everyone and although never had her own children, she didn't need too as was the best mum to everyone.

Sadly a week later on the 3rd May our amazing Jij passed away. We can not thank the Hospice and all the staff from the doctors, nurses, HCA'S, well being team and physios to  the volunteers. They are the most gifted people who have so much compassion and care. We owe them so much. The love and devotion that Jij and her family received in the last 4 weeks is phenomenal. It costs £13,000 per day to fund the hospice, therefore we all feel it is so important that this exceptional hospice is supported to enable it to continue to provide  this highly valued environment to loved ones and families.

Thank you St Wilfrid's you are all superstars

Team members 

James Barnard, Carlie Barnard, Paula Groome, Arthur Groome, Molly Withers, Tom Crouch, Elise Winchester.Clair Coope, Joe Coope, Lois Coope,Eddie Coope, Laura Orford, Ray O rford,A . Orford. Victoria King, Julia Pickup, 

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