Final Chapter
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My wife died last night in the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Her passing was as peaceful as could be expected after nearly two years of suffering with cancers of the liver, breast and adrenal gland. She had three sessions of chemo and two of radiation treatment, which undoubtedly prolonged her life but at considerable physical and mental cost. These are cruel diseases and it is a terrible thing to see someone gradually decline before your eyes.
About six months ago she decided against a further chemo treatment which would probably only have extended her life by another couple of months and would have left her even weaker and miserable over a three month treatment period. Instead she opted for a cruise while she was still well enough to enjoy one and we consequently went to New Zealand, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Honolulu over three weeks and she did enjoy it although she was worn out by the end. When she died her weight was down to less than 40kg.
Taking care of her was virtually a full-time occupation and that is the main reason for my almost total absence from this site over the last couple of years. It also seemed to curtail any creativity which I may once have had. Although there were times when I wanted to write I just couldn't get any sustained direction in a story. Perhaps this will change now although I won't rush into anything until my personal situation has returned to some kind of normality.
Funnily enough I am a private kind of person and thus only a few very dear friends here have known about all of this. I am just not someone who bares their heart and soul to the world and I don't do anything like Facebook or Twitter. Fifty-odd years of hiding my true self from the world have instilled me with a sense of caution. My wife never knew and nor would she have approved.
This site has been a secret safety valve for me and I hope it will continue to be so and perhaps I will again be able to contribute a little more than the occasional comment. I thank all those who administer Big Closet and all those who write here for helping to sustain my spirits over the last six years,
Joanne