During Covid all doctors and nurses and other humans were under pressure and time was not given to exploratory procedures, especially for a 91 year old.

Bev limped her way through Xmas and January not that well and getting tired quickly but rising to the occasion for family meals and visits. I continually advocated for her whilst trying to live a life myself, unsuccessfully.

February came and Bev’s energy levels were waning. Then at the end of the month a fruity, chesty cough became apparent. I noticed it when ‘dragging’ Bev around the block for a usually enjoyable walk in the sun with my husband Geoff.

I reported the cough to the nurses who immediately called the GP who listened to her chest and put her straight on antibiotics citing a chest infection.  After 2 weeks on varying antibiotics the cough was the same so a chest  x-ray was ordered. Pneumonia was suspected, in fact an uncommon post-covid pneumonia was diagnosed. But after the X-ray was studied again and Bev was not responsive to new antibiotics a CT scan was ordered.

It was then in early March cancer was suspected and subsequently confirmed by an intrusive series of tests carried out in hospital. Bev’s lungs were full of fluid and she required oxygen. 1.5 litres of fluid were removed, and she temporarily improved. However we were warned the fluid could return quickly within a matter of days, which it did.  I wanted her returned to residential care as Bev could only see one person for one hour each day in hospital.

Back in residential care Bev required constant anti nausea medication which we had to continually agitate for even though it had been written up by the GP. The need for morphine arose and the amount Bev needed to be comfortable was quickly escalating beyond what was written up by the GP.

Mercifully family members were able to visit Bev, so much needed conversations and hugs were had to let Bev know she was loved. She tired easily but smiles and tears were evident.