I lost my beautiful wife in late February this year after 12 months of what I would call torture for the both of us.
Until you are faced and placed in this situation, no one will understand the real pain and grief associated with it.
We obviously tried every avenue of fighting this terrible disease sadly to no avail.
Thankfully we found with the help of a friend the most Supportive, Kind and Caring Lady we have ever met, who stepped up and assisted us with all things associated with the care of my darling wife Inna in her final weeks with us.
Allow me to introduce if you will, Ms Tracey Rusden, she is what is termed an End of Life Doula.
Tracey came along just at the right time as I felt like I was totally alone, stressed to the maximum & about to have a nervous breakdown. It felt like she lifted a huge black cloud off me and gave me the strength to carry on caring for my Inneshka at our home for her final weeks of life.
Without Tracey`s help, I don`t know what would have happened, other than the fact it would have been much, more difficult dealing with everything alone.
Of course, we had help from Community Nurses who by the way I cannot speak more highly of. Palliative care were also heavily involved, but left a lot to be desired which I will not talk about here.
Tracey took care of everything involved after my Inneshka passed as well, including the lodgement of required legal documents, Funeral arrangements, etc, including the aftercare of my wives little dog Rusty who passed 2 days after his Mama due to the stress of losing her.
She brought their ashes together back to me personally and was present and took videos of our very private service held on my wife’s favorite Surf beach as per her wishes, which allowed me to forward them to her Mother and Brother and family overseas.
I am eternally grateful to this wonderful woman and will finish by saying, that if ever you find yourself or your loved ones in this terrible situation, you will be very hard-pressed to find the help she so wonderfully administered and personally provided us elsewhere.
Tracey`s care has not stopped and she checks on me regularly, she is now a very close friend and has a positive input into the life I must now adjust to.