The beginning of the end was New Years Eve 2008. Mum suffered with intense headaches her entire life but these had always been brushed off by her doctors. Well the reason for them raised its nasty head on Boxing Day 2008. Mum started to violently vomit and took an intense pain behind her eyes. She was taken to the Ulster Hospital where, despite presenting with classic brain heamorrage (SAH)symptoms, she was diagnosed with a stomach virus! She was sent home after an overnight stay and carried on despite the pain in her head. She already had an appointment booked with her GP on New years eve so Mum just muddled on until then instead of making a fuss. Typical mum. On that fateful day she went into Bangor town centre, did some shopping and made it to the doctors office before collapsing. Somehow she had walked around for a week with her brain bleeding and the intercranial pressure increasing the entire time. That is how amazing and uncomplaining she was. She was rushed to the ICU in the Royal Hospital and there she stayed for the next month and a half. The doctors didnt think she would survive but she did. She not only survived she regained conciousness, retained her motor and speech skills and was up and about before you knew it. But Mum did have to slow down after this. She was left was a constant intense pain which increased when she moved. She hated every moment of the next eleven months because she was no longer able to be totally independant. She had been left with some diplopia so was unable to garden or read. And she loved to do both. Despite this every time I saw her she put on a brave face and didnt complain about her situation. She never wanted to burden someone else with her troubles. Mum muddled on for the next eleven months, during which she was in and out of hospital. Mums brain was scanned so many times it should have glowed! But the doctors could never come to a definite or helpful conclusion as to the cause of Mums pain. Until on the 28th of November 2009 the reason made itself totally clear. Mum was already in hospital having her shunt and brain pressure checked when the terrible conclusion to the past year occurred. Mums original anuerysm totally ruptured. It was quick and definite. There was nothing left for the doctors to repair. I think that on New Years Eve Mum got to heaven and had a go at God because she wasnt ready to go! She hadnt got her ducks in a row, her affairs in order or her girls prepared! And just like she wore down the Housing Executive over the bungalows she wore down God over this. So he gave her another eleven months to do her stuff but then made it absolutely final for Mum leaving us. But I will always be grateful for those extra eleven months. RIP Mum. Sleep well. xxx