A Death in the Family

Sadly Nigel’s sister, Sandy, died last week.

It started with a fall and ended with pneumonia.  Sandy was vulnerable following many years of anorexia.

Nigel and her mother were at Sandy’s bedside at the end as she passed on peacefully.

We are all full of regret that she never completely escaped the warped kingdom of anorexia.

However, her Christian belief and ours is for an afterlife and it pleases us to picture her, (like Pilgrim, in the book by John Bunyan), casting aside her earthly burdens and bounding on eager feet over springy green turf towards her Heavenly Father.

There have also been blessings for those of us left behind - as the email messages and cards roll in we see how many friends and supporters she had and how many people valued her voluntary work for the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where she had previously been on the board of governors, putting the patient’s point of view, piloting new projects and writing clear reports.

Fittingly, it was in the RVI to which she had given her time and energy that she died. 

Even with her life limited by severe illness Sandy had achieved so much that was worthwhile and she will be missed by many.

Which we shall try to see as a comfort.

The photo above shows Sandy with her mother when still in her twenties.