Beatson: Bauble Appeal will help charity offer vital care

The retired civil servant had been suffering no symptoms at the time and was well enough in July to reopen the Beatson Cancer Charity’s Wellbeing Centre, in Glasgow.

Sadly, she died just a fortnight later after developing a number of severe infections.

Her husband Paul, from Johnstone, is now supporting Beatson Cancer Charity’s Bauble Appeal this Christmas to ensure more patients and their families can benefit from the support he and his wife of 30 years received during her final weeks.

Brenda, who had undergone a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer in 2000, received her new diagnosis from her GP after taking a blood test to renew a prescription.

Paul told The Gazette: “She had no symptoms, she was feeling fine.

“In fact, we were actually on holiday when some of it started and she wasn’t up or down, she walked round my local golf course with me the week she was admitted to the Beatson.

“After discussions, we agreed that she would go for multiple courses of chemotherapy. I think we knew the risks but I don’t think we ever expected it to turn out the way it did.”

On June 13, Brenda successfully completed her first round of chemotherapy but then started to develop infections.

Paul shows his support for the Beatson Cancer Charity’s Bauble Appeal (Image: Beatson Cancer Charity)

Paul, who moved to the Isle of Bute with his wife six years ago, said: “The ward closed because of Covid, so I couldn’t visit for two weeks and then, on July 4, I got a phone call to say that she had taken a dip and that’s when I went over.

“On July 5, we were told she had such severe infections that there was nothing else they could do and she passed away in the early hours of July 6.

“It was very quick from the diagnosis. The main thing for us, for Brenda, was that her passing was peaceful.”

During the treatment, Paul’s niece Joanne made a ‘jar of positive thoughts’ so Brenda could pick one out each day. Another jar has since been made and placed in the ward for other patients to use.

Paul, who first met Brenda at an office Christmas party in 1991, praised the Beatson Cancer Charity for all the support it has provided.

He said: “The staff were great, I couldn’t praise them enough.

“This year, Christmas will be very different without Brenda but I know I’ve got the support of family, friends and the Beatson and we’ll continue to make memories, as we always did at Christmas.”

Errin Shaw, from Inchinnan, is also encouraging Renfrewshire residents to support the Beatson Cancer Charity’s Bauble Appeal.

Errin Shaw received extensive treatment before being told her cancer was in remission (Image: Beatson Cancer Charity)

She had been experiencing itchy skin for months before being diagnosed with a rare cancer called grey zone lymphoma in September 2021.

Errin, 30, said: “I was at TRNSMT in Glasgow Green, we were listening to Snow Patrol, and I actually thought I was having a heart attack.

“I turned to my husband Graeme and said ‘have I been stabbed?’ and he said no, so my mum picked us up. She took me straight to the Glasgow Royal and, within four hours, I was diagnosed with cancer.

“I was there for three or four nights, then I went straight to the Beatson, so I never went home from TRNSMT for a month.”

Errin got married to Graeme on June 17 last year and the couple now live in Paisley.

Only three months later, she started chemotherapy and there were only 10 days during an eight-month period that she wasn’t in the Beatson, due to the complexity of her treatment.

However, earlier this year, she was on a day out with her sister in Edinburgh when she got an unexpected call.

Errin said: “It was my lymphoma nurse Michelle and she said ‘I can’t wait until your appointment on Monday to tell you this news. We’ve actually had to triple check it because we can’t believe your PET scan’s clear.’

Happy couple Errin and Graeme are pictured on their wedding day in June last year (Image: Beatson Cancer Charity)

“She said there was no detection of disease at that present moment. As you can imagine, that was out the blue and, from last year being told I wasn’t going to make the Christmas to being told that, it was a crazy moment.”

Errin has since held an event called the Gingie Ball to celebrate being in remission, which raised £5,375 for the Beatson Cancer Charity.

She also plans to visit the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre on Christmas Day to hand out gifts to patients after experiencing being in the wards last Christmas.

Errin added: “There aren’t words for the Beatson, I wouldn’t be here without them.

“We’ve raised thousands for the Beatson because, being in there, you experience first-hand just how amazing they are. They’re phenomenal.”

Everyone who donates to the charity’s festive appeal will receive two baubles in the post – one to hang on their own tree at home and one to send back to be hung on the Beatson tree.

Rachel Mullin, campaigns officer at the Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We would be grateful for any support you can offer us this Christmas so we can continue to be there for patients and families across the west of Scotland.”

To support the appeal, visit www.beatsoncancercharity.org/bauble, call 0141 212 0505 or text BEATSON to 70460 to donate £10.