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Bereavement

RIP Himself 💙

(239 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sun 22-Feb-26 17:30:02

My darling husband of 52 years died in the hospice yesterday afternoon.

My heart is broken today.

This bravest of men suffered dreadfully with progression of his oesophageal cancer these last 10 months I can’t begin to tell you what he had to endure.

He was admitted to the Christie early in January and thence by ambulance to hospice for his last two weeks of life. I stayed by his side for this past month, sleeping in a recliner chair by his bedside.

My overwhelming emotion at present is relief that he has been released from his struggle. He had 3 oesophageal stents in situ. I am glad that he wasn’t in any pain at the end of his life.

That was always his biggest fear and I’m so grateful he was at least spared that fate.

He once promised me, months ago now, that when he died he was going to “take all this sadness with me and leave you to the joy of living”.

I’m holding you to that promise my most brave and valiant man. My life will never be the same, I will miss you so very much, but I will try my very best to stay strong ~ as you urged me be. 💕

Thank you to all who have kept us in your hearts and prayers during this pilgrimage. I’ve read GN most days and know how blessed I have been to have so much outpouring of friendship and love. I’ve been quite humbled to be honest. Xxx

Sparklefizz Mon 23-Feb-26 07:44:40

I'm so very sorry to hear your sad news. Sending love and hugs to you and your family. flowers

NotAGran55 Mon 23-Feb-26 07:52:19

Deepest sympathy to you, your family and friends of Himself.

harrigran Mon 23-Feb-26 08:12:57

My sincere condolences on the loss of your dear husband.
There are no words that will ease the pain at this time but please know that you are thought of with love 💐

Icandoit Mon 23-Feb-26 08:21:22

Don't really know you but you sound a very special lady for an extra special man. Sending hugs to you. It's never easy flowers

BlueSapphire Mon 23-Feb-26 08:22:00

I'm so very sorry and sending you love at this very sad time; it doesn't seem like it now, but you will gather your strength from your DH's wise words and live for him. xx

AskAlice Mon 23-Feb-26 08:31:22

So sorry for your loss and sending you love at this sad time.

BladeAnnie Mon 23-Feb-26 08:37:53

So very sorry to read this - you are in my thoughts 🙏 💐

love0c Mon 23-Feb-26 08:40:04

So very sorry for your loss FGT.

CariadAgain Mon 23-Feb-26 08:40:36

So sorry. Take care of yourself.

glammagran Mon 23-Feb-26 08:45:15

I’ve only just logged onto GN and seen your very sad message on your loss FGT’s. My heart goes out to you and your family. Your very close bond with Himself has been so apparent in your posts over the years. He will live in your heart forever. Take great care of yourself. 💔

Hatty05darling Mon 23-Feb-26 08:47:21

I am so sorry FGT! Words are so inadequate!! Your post has made me resolve to be nicer to DH who is quite poorly atm!! Trouble is he’s a total pessimist and I’m (usually) the opposite!!
Sending you a huge hug FGT 🌻🌻

Patsy70 Mon 23-Feb-26 08:52:45

So very sad to read this. Be comforted by all the happy memories you have shared with your most brave and valiant man. ♥️💐

Millie22 Mon 23-Feb-26 08:53:47

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. There are no words.

It's strange how even if we don't know people we somehow feel that we do.

Look after yourself. Sending you a 🤗 and 💕 x

Tizliz Mon 23-Feb-26 08:55:40

nothing we can say will make it better but hope it helps knowing we are all thinking of you.

Kalu Mon 23-Feb-26 09:17:53

To lose not only your darling man but your best friend is a double blow dear friend. You fought so bravely alongside him, always there for him.

My heart breaks for you.
Much love ❤️

Granniesunite Mon 23-Feb-26 09:26:58

“They whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before they are now wherever we are”

My condolences to you and the family.

Roses Mon 23-Feb-26 10:20:19

FGT. I am so sorry you have lost your lovely man,
I have thought about you everyday since you told us he was ill
Be kind to yourself and wrap yourself in the loving blanket of your family and friends

Lona Mon 23-Feb-26 10:21:06

I’m so sad for you, sending love and deepest sympathy 💜

vena11 Mon 23-Feb-26 10:25:35

So sorry to hear this xxx

Mollygo Mon 23-Feb-26 10:57:06

Deepest sympathy to you all. I’m glad you were able to be with your DH till the end. ❤️

EVEOHA2602 Mon 23-Feb-26 11:30:54

Prayers for you and your Family - may he rest in eternal peace 🙏🏽☘️❤️

Elusivebutterfly Mon 23-Feb-26 11:51:40

I am very sorry for your loss.

Tenko Mon 23-Feb-26 12:30:01

FGT I’m sorry for your loss . I’ve only just logged on today and seen your post . Sending much sympathy to you and your family 💐

Whiff Mon 23-Feb-26 13:01:42

FGT I am sorry words don't really mean anything. But know you are not alone . The moment the love of your life took his last breath you lost half of yourself. As together you made a whole . For 52 you where husband and wife . But so much more than that . You where eachothers other half together you made a whole . He was the only person who knew the real you and you where the only person who knew the real him . In a second you went from being a couple to being classed as not just a widow but single and it's horrible.

My husband died 22 years ago aged 47. But I am still his wife and still married . That will never change .

I know you just want to curl up in a ball and shut the world out . You probably thought this morning what's the point of washing ,brushing your teeth or getting dressed but you have to because your husband would want you to go on living . Plus the fact not only do you just want grieve unfortunately with a death of a spouse or partner there is all the phone calls ,paperwork you have to do straight away . I only wish someone had told me all this when after watching my husband die before my eyes for 3 years and the just short of the 4 months he was given when he became terminal . I thought at 45 I had to brave for everyone else I was a fool.

Bone crushing grief not only hurts physically but mentally. You cry so much your eyes string and your chest hurts. You don't want to eat or even drink but you have to . Like my husband yours was suffering and they needed to die but it's so hard . I told my husband to stop struggling and we would be ok. But there never is an okay .

If we didn't love them we couldn't grieve . I know these words won't help you know but hopefully in a few weeks . But we are the lucky ones we found the other half of ourselves some people live their whole lives and never know what we had .

I can't say your grief will get easier or lesson but given months even years you learn to cope . But the love and grief never dies. In my experience grief only gets worse as the years go by as my husband has missed so much .

Unfortunately people with disappear from your life especially after the funeral . And that's hard. But you will find the people who truly love and care about you .

Never fight your tears and if you have something of your husbands sleep with it . It will help especially if it smells of him .

Love never dies . 🌹

nightowl Mon 23-Feb-26 13:05:31

I’m so sorry to hear this FGT and send my sincere condolences to you and your family. Your love for your DH shines through, you have been a tower of strength for him. May you find peace now xx