Proud nanny, wife and mum, Sue Falshaw, from North Yorkshire, made a lasting impact on everyone she met. After Sue’s lung cancer diagnosis in 2021, her daughter, Sam Broadbent, sought out support from our Ask the Nurse helpline.
When Sue passed, Sam and her family did a funeral collection for the charity with the hope the money raised will provide the same level of support they received.
“From the first contact I had with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, we have felt supported and cared for throughout.
The first nurse I spoke to on the Roy Castle helpline was a fabulous lady called Ann.
Ann couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive. She listened to me intently, talked me through my tears and made me feel at ease. Ann answered all of my questions and she had so much time for me.
Ann was always there for a chat and made everything that we were being told by mum’s doctors easier to understand. My mum and dad didn’t want to know her prognosis but gave permission for the consultant to tell me, so my sister was aware of everything with her being so far away. I did all the ‘finding out’ and tried to get the best possible care and treatment for my mum. Ann massively helped with this. She went through biopsy results, treatment options and side effects.
When my mum had immunotherapy and it caused her to have hyper progression. Ann was again on hand to explain all of this to me and make me see more clearly through the fog.
We then found out Mum had masses on her brain and there were too many clusters for treatment. The pain we felt when hearing this news was unfathomable, but I had to keep Mum going. And it was Ann who kept me going.
That next day, mum wouldn’t get out of bed, she was so depressed. I needed some more support of what to say and do. Ann was there again to guide me and give me the strength and support to help Mum. She also sent my mum and dad some information which really helped them process what was to be expected in the coming months.”
“I was there for Mum every day and when I needed anything I knew I could call the wonderful Ann. During the last couple of weeks of my amazing Mum’s life, I called Ann a few times just for someone to talk to and for some support on what to expect and how I could be the best carer.
Ann told me to look at hospice at home care and get help. I wouldn’t have known anything about this if it wasn’t for Ann, so I am eternally grateful for everything she did for us.
My Dad and I were with my mum until the end and although she was terminally ill, she lived her life to the full and spent all her time with her loving family and in her beautiful home.
Ann called me after my mum had passed away and gave my encouragement and support of how to get through these difficult times ahead and said that the Roy Castle Lung Foundation was always here for me and my family.
At Mum’s funeral, we had a collection and there was no doubt who we wanted the money to go it. The support that the charity has given me has been fabulous so I am really proud that we could contribute in this small way so that Ann and the team can be there for others the way they were for me.”
Here is a little poem I wrote for my mum:
Mummy, you gave me life to live as I please.
You gave me love and support to follow my dreams.
Your beauty lives forever, deep in my soul.
The memory of your love fills my heart, and I will never be alone.
