Wendy Collins

Wendy's bravery and her ability to focus on the small positives to keep an optimistic outlook has been a constant source of admiration and a role model for her daughter to follow.

Wendy was diagnosed in July 2021 after developing Jaundice. Looking back there were other symptoms, such as borderline diabetes which could potentially have diagnosed her sooner. The Pancreatic Cancer was not operable as it was too close to a vein - but it was treated with chemotherapy and she was referred under the NHS to recieve SABR at Genesis Care in Oxford. Whilst this did significantly shrink the pancreatic cancer, it had spread to her lung, and then to her stomach lining. It was whilst receiving chemotherapy again in September 2023 that her side effects and symptoms became more severe. A complication with a bowel perforation meant that we lost her on 21 October 2023, much sooner than we expected.

My Mother kept a garden.

A garden of the heart;

She planted all the good things,

That gave my life it’s start.

She turned me to the sunshine,

And encouraged me to dream:

Fostering and nurturing

The seeds of self-esteem.

And when the winds and rains came,

She protected me enough;

But not too much, she knew I’d need

To stand up strong and tough.

Her constant good example,

Always taught me right from wrong;

Markers for my pathway

To last my whole life long.

I am my Mother’s garden,

I am her legacy.

And I hope today she feels the love,

Reflected back from me.