400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
72 FOLLOWERS
As this blog title suggests, the chances of me (the sibling of a brain tumour victim) developing my very own brain tumour, were apparently ridiculous. They are the kind of odds that would make a movie or book seem preposterous and detract from any story-telling magic. Yet here I am, nearly 10 years after my beloved brother, Graeme Turner, died, embarking on my own journey.
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
The tributes and address given at Rachel’s Funeral Service can be viewed by following the links. Each one will open in a new window.
Graham’s Tribute
Keith’s Tribute and Poem
Rev. John’s Funeral Address
After the service there was a collection that amounted to £1080 which was shared between St Barnabas’ Church and The Brain Tumour Charity. The sum raised clearly shows the high regard and love for Rachel.
At the time of writing this post the amount of money raised for The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of Rachel and her brother Graeme was over £52,600. The fund, that was originally called The G ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
December 11, 2018
It was a cold bright winter’s day for Rachel’s funeral and it is estimated that over 150 people attended the church service with the majority then going on the crematorium and reception. Many had travelled from far and wide to say goodbye to a wonderful Daughter, Wife, Mammy, Friend and Colleague. A group of over 20 people walked slowly behind the coffin from our house the short distance to the church in the next street with the funeral director leading the way in front of the hearse. It was a very moving experience.
The full details of the service including tributes from Gra ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Morning all
The Methodist Church at the bottom of Strathmore Road has kindly offered the use of their car park so that gives another option for those of you travelling by car. It’s just a stone’s throw away.
G
  ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Evening all
Thank you for all of the kind thoughts and wonderful words written and spoken about my darling girl over these past few days.
I can now give notice of the arrangements for Rachel’s funeral.
There will be a service at St Barnabas Church*, Station Road, Rowlands Gill on Tuesday 11 December, beginning at 10:45am, following which the family will travel to Mountsett Crematorium. We welcome those who would like to accompany us to Mountsett.
We then welcome you all to join us for a reception at Burnopfield Cricket Club, Front Street.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the G ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Rachel passed peacefully this afternoon, with her family beside her, following a mercifully short decline which started this morning.
I cannot begin to describe the raw intensity of the grief that surrounds us, the disbelief, the devastation.
I will update you all re funeral details shortly.
G ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Hellos and Goodbyes
Over the past 10 days Rachel has had visits from both university friends and ex-work colleagues. Jennifer and Leo have received various gifts and the carers have been provided with edible goodies. We have also had regular visits from friends of Rachel who live on the other side of the Pennines and who bring supplies of food to keep us from starving. The distances that these lovely people have travelled to see their friend is testament to them as people and to the friendship that they have had with Rachel. One of these wonderful people came from her home in Singapore and aft ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Evening all, G here
We’ve had a difficult 48hrs.
Yesterday, Rachel vomited immediately after taking her afternoon tablets. Not only was this unpleasant for her it brought to the fore our fears for her ability to take her, rather extensive (c25 tablets per day), oral medication**. Thankfully the sickness subsided and we were eventually able to complete her daily dosing. We finished the day exhausted but hopeful that a dicky tummy, rather than the progression of Rachel’s symptoms, were behind the day’s difficulties.
Alas, this was not the case. Rachel was unable to take h ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
October 27, 2018
Update
It is 12 years ago today that Graeme, our lovely son and Rachel’s wonderful brother, died. Time really does not heal and this anniversary is the worst yet. As Graham mentioned in the last post Rachel’s stay in the hospice helped her enormously and she came home the week before last on October 17. A couple of days before that a hospital bed and other accessories had been delivered to the Hobbit House. Rachel’s needs and deteriorating health also meant that daily visits by carers and nurses had to be arranged. As a result it was no longer realistic for Leo and Jennifer to ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Morning all
It has been a while since last I updated you all regarding Rachel. As those of you who know me can attest to, keeping in touch with people via electronic media is not a strength of mine.
Since receiving the news that the chemotherapy had been ineffective and would be stopped, the symptoms Rachel is faced with have been in what I can only think to describe as a steady state of progression – no singular drastic moment but a series of small, almost imperceptible changes on a daily basis. To ensure Rachel receives the best level of care available we made the difficult but necessa ..read more
400,000,000 to 1 | Two siblings. Two brain tumours
3y ago
Over the last week, I’ve had a number of falls and an increasing number of serious headaches. The chemotherapy which I was on (PCV) did not appear to be working.
After a scan on Friday, I got my results this afternoon which sadly confirmed that my tumour’s not only grown in size but crossed over the mid-line. I have various tumours (three or four) on the right hand side and “just” one on the left.
Although it was as expected, it is nevertheless devastating to see and hear what the scans mean.
rx
  ..read more