Described as amazing, loving and the life and soul of the party, everyone who knew her loved Sharon Bridge. City Hospice provided specialist palliative care to Sharon following a diagnosis of lung cancer and secondary brain cancer.
A family oriented carer, Sharon enjoyed spending time with her loved ones whether it was celebrating big milestones or having quality time at home.
Having experienced headaches frequently for some time and feeling that something was not quite right, Sharon visited her GP on several occasions in early 2020. The headaches persisted, with the medicine prescribed not having any impact on the pain, and she was referred for a scan as the pandemic began.
Following further tests, Sharon was sadly diagnosed with lung cancer and secondary brain cancer.
Her husband Mark said: “We were both devastated by Sharon’s diagnosis. I was perhaps more in denial, not realising how serious her conditions were, while Sharon was more pragmatic and started planning life insurance policies and putting other processes in place for the future.
“It was heartbreaking to see the impact of the chemotherapy on her and as her brain cancer progressed, her personality changed. We had always been best friends as well as a couple and had never argued but as she became more ill, she started to become angry and irritable which was not like her at all.”
Mark had never heard of City Hospice before Sharon began receiving specialist palliative care from the charity towards the end of her life.
Speaking about the involvement of City Hospice, Mark said: “City Hospice are amazing and I want to thank everyone who was involved in Sharon’s care. Whether we were at home or in hospital, they helped Sharon manage medication changes, made her feel comfortable and looked after us all during such a challenging time.”
Following Sharon’s death in October 2021, City Hospice has continued to support Mark with specialist bereavement counselling.
Mark added: “I’m lucky to be part of such a close knit family who are always there for each other. However, even amongst a large group of people, a sense of loneliness and grief could sweep over me and make me feel like I was the only person there. The counselling from City Hospice has been a big help; it’s helping me understand my grief and find ways to cope with such a big loss in our lives.”
A donation made during the Light Up A Life campaign will make a world of difference to a family facing terminal illness in the community. To donate, visit http://www.cityhospice.org.uk/star-in-the-sky/ or call 02920 524 150.
