My mum is in a different country dying of cancer

I'm 34 and my mum of 69 is in a spainish hospital dying of cancer. It all started last year when she was diagnosed. Since then she's had 2 operations and has 2 stomas. A week ago we were told she only had a couple of weeks left as the cancer had spread everywhere including her bones. I still don't understand how this has happened. But what makes it worse is that she lives in Spain and I'm in the UK. Iv been able to go over a couple of times but with all the covid restrictions, it's made it even harder to see her. She now cannot speak due to having no energy. She doesn't eat either. She just sleeps. I feel so guilty that I'm not with her all the time and that she'll probably die alone in her hospital bed. The last time she spoke to me, she said she didn't want to die in Spain. She wanted to come back to England and be with me and my sister so she could die there. This is not possible at all. She's far to weak and the cost of the transfer would be 15k! I feel even worse now because I won't be able to fulfil any of her last wishes. All I can do is watch her slowly get worse. She also never put anything in place regarding funeral arrangements or will. She also has no money to help us pay for anything like that. I know thats the last thing that should be on my mind but I'm just so scared that I won't be able to give her the send off she deserves. It's all just a huge mess and I wish things were very different 

  • Hi DaisyB420,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm so sorry to hear about the situation with your mum. I can only imagine how incredibly difficult this must be. Don't beat yourself up about how it is - it sounds like there's nothing you could have done any differently. It's unfortunate and no doubt incredibly tough but it's not something you should feel guilty about. I know this may be easier said than done.

    Once the time comes, I'm sure you will do her proud with regards to things like funeral arrangements. But in the meantime, try to take things a day at a time and do what you can or need to do now. I hope that you have some good support around you and people to talk to. We are of course always here for support on the forum too whenever you may need it.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator