Guilt around my mums last hours

I lost my lovely mum to breast cancer 5 weeks ago. She didn't see a doctor and didn't tell me she was sick, so i didn't find out until she got so poorly i called her an ambulance. I'd hoped it was an infection but it was metastatic breast cancer. She passed away in the hospital 5 days later. She was 70. It was such a shock and I'm sad that i couldn't get her home as she hated hospitals.

she passed at 7am, during the night before the nurse told me i could switch the light off if I wanted,  but I didn't want to miss the moment she passed (I didn't know what that would be like) and I wanted to see her face. Now I can't stop thinking that I made her final hours uncomfortable under the bright hospital lights and I'm heartbroken.

  • Hi

    Firstly, I am so sorry for your loss. I can imagine the shock and also loss is a battle. I lost my lovely Dad 6 weeks 2 days ago to Lung Cancer. I haven't accepted it yet. He was diagnosed in June 2021.

    All I would say is, try and comfort yourself with the fact you were there when she passed. My Dad too passed in hospital, we planned to get him home but he was too poorly and weak, he hated being in hospital. There was 9 of us with him when he passed and I'm so grateful we could be with him, I would hate to think he was alone. You were with your Mum when she passed, she wasn't alone, don't feel guilty, at some point you might look back and being there will give you comfort. It's still very early days and all I am doing is one day at a time.

    Look after yourself and don't beat yourself up.

    xx 

  • Dear Lucie,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I'm sorry to hear of your Dads passing. My best wishes to you and your family. I'm glad so many of you got to be with him.

    It's terribly hard isn't it...

    You're right, it's a positive that I was by her side, I really hope she knew and I will try to focus on that.

    Take care x

  • Hi,

    It's so very hard and we look back and just hope we did the right thing for them. I'm sure your Mum knew you were with her, they also say that our loved ones can still here us.