Patricia Elizabeth Currim

Patricia Elizabeth Currim passed away at 4.24pm on Sunday 4th May 2008 at just 44 years old. From the Erdington area in Birmingham, she was a mother to nine and grandmother to nine.

Diagnosed with Cervical Cancer in January 2006 she had Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy throughout that summer. We was then told the Cancer had cleared later that year and we were all absolutely thrilled the awful illness had cleared and we could all then carry on living a normal life.

However, two months later it come back and in February 2007 she had more chemotherapy; also this time causing her to lose all her hair. Word's can not explain how hard it is to see your mum who has devoted her whole life to her children (i have four brothers and four sisters, ages ranging from 24 to 5) who was once an outgoing, bubbly, beautiful woman deteriorate into a scared, insecure and confidence-lacking lady. I think this is also the point where we realised how much of not just a physical but a mental effect the illness is having on her.

Last summer my mum was told there is nothing more hospitals in the UK could do other than giving her pain releif. Pain releif! She was now also unable to use the toilet properly and has a colostomy bag attached at all times. So now it really did quite kick in. Mid September, I contacted a doctor in Beijing, China about a treatment we'd heard about called Gendicine Therapy which is a cure for cancer and is only legal in China. It's not cheap but it was our last hope. It's a series of drug treatments and therapies which is taken over the course of two months and treats more serious cancers. So, on the 4th December my mum, my dad and myself left for Beijing to hopefully be rid of this viscous, nasty illness. It meant i sacrificed college, work etc but there's nowhere else i'd rather have been than supporting the woman who has quite literally sacrificed her whole life for myself and my family.

It was hard adjusting to such a different lifestyle and culture change but it was all for good reasons. Treatment went on and my mum started to feel better and was able to do things she had previously been unable to do. There were many bad days also but thing's started to look up. So after 6 and a half week's treatment we made a decision. We decided we'd come back to England for a few days to see family as my mum missed my little brother and sisters especially a lot! Then we'd come back and complete the treatment.

However, once we returned home she began to fall ill really bad again and she was taken to our local hospice so she could receive constant pain relief and care. At this time we were told at her current state she was too ill to even travel back to Beijing and they would try to build her up some strength to be able to travel back and complete treatment. But this day never came, every time she regained strength she'd lose it again. We didn't tell her she couldn't travel back, if she knew maybe she'd lose hope and give up. Mid February this year the hospice advised us she had around a few days to a week left to live. There are really no word's to even get across emotions that were felt during this time. Despite the hospice's advice, a week later she was still here, two weeks later she was still here. She kept fighting and holding on until May 2008 where on 4th May 2008 there were clear signals this was her last day. She was breathing once every 20-30 seconds. She was in too much suffering and pain to go on. She'd fought enough. So at 4:24pm with me and the rest of my family, we witnessed her last few breaths and she passed away. Just like that. You could say we were expecting this, and you'd be right, but to expect it and to realize it are completely different.

Her funeral was on the 14th May 2008 complete with a black, white and pink theme (something she requested in her last few days). We hope we did you proud mum and may you rest in peace forever. You will never be forgotten and will be thought of everyday.