By Dorothy’s daugher, Janice Fletcher
Dorothy Parkinson (nee Bell) was born in August 1930 in Salford to Ethel and Walter Bell and died on 11th May 2012 with her loving family by her side. A devoted loving, hard working and loved dear wife to Ive (Ivor), mum to Janice and Ken, nan to Clare and Drew and loving aunty, sister-in-law and friend to all.
Dot was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis many years ago and later with Sjogrens’s syndrome also known as Mikulicz disease and Sicca syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva. She also suffered with mixed connective tissue disease, emphysema, asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.
In 2003, she wasn’t feeling too good and, as usual, thought she would ‘wash the car’ to try and work off her feeling unwell. She suffered a severe heart attack and had a stent operation shortly afterwards. More recently in April 2012, even though she was now virtually house bound, she was feeling unwell again and after being admitted to hospital she had suffered a pulmonary embolism.
During her last few weeks, she suffered two severe nose bleeds due to her medication and was hospitalised. Her final days that remained we watched her deteriorate rapidly; it was so incredibly quick. We found out that her blood was seriously thin and she was taken into hospital where we were told she was a very poorly lady; she had a kidney infection, she had pneumonia, oedema and, finally, she lost her battle to stay with us.
During all this endurance, she fought so bravely and courageously with dignity and fight to overcome her illnesses. Her breathing which had prevented her from having a quality life for her last twelve months was a huge battle in itself, but throughout all of these illnesses, her fun-loving determined, caring, loving character would shine through, even in her last conscious hours.
God Bless you mum. We will love and miss you forever! You will be always in our thoughts, sleep peacefully xxxxx
If you read Dot’s story, please help and donate as much or as little as you can, we need to know more about this awful debilitating disease. http://www.justgiving.com/DorothyParkinson