Betty Haigh -: Mother, Grandma and great grandma 21/04/1930-21/03/2008

This is her story in brief-:

Before retiring she was a cook at bridlington high school. Which is where she met my Grandad (Bill). She was always very popular and loved by all that knew her. She was always there for everyone and put a smile on most peoples faces. We live in harrogate now and whenever we went to brid we always called in to see her. Aswell as have tea. She always made a point of trying to be honest so sometimes she'd say things that we didnt like 'The truth'. Which we dont always like to hear. She was very wise and we all looked up to her. Every christmas she'd make cakes for all the family. We all turned to her for advice or if we had problems. She was always there at the end of the phone. Grandad was always at the door with his pipe everytime we turned up to look back now it was comical. She was always strong minded and very indepedent. we used to hate going out with her as she always drove Lada's or at least when we were kids she did. She enjoyed travelling and spent a lot of time in penrith in the lake district. She was a very strong woman and a grandma to be proud of. It started off with my grandad having a lot of health problems and she always looked after him. Unfortunately that wasn't always to be the case. A few years ago my grandma took a turn for the worst when she was diagnosed with cancer. It was horrible to hear and she went through months of treatment to get through it! It made her very week and tired and she lost a lo of weight. I believe after a while she was actually cured. But several weeks later the cancer came back! This time she had to be operated on and had to have part of her stomach removed. But despite this she Did eventually get throught it. She wasnt the same Grandma but still brave and managed to keep her head up and still be there for all that needed her. It isnt long after this that she was diagnosed with dementure. She was still our Grandma looks voice and everything but when she was talking to us she'd have a conversation then start it all over again. we knew it wasnt on purpose so we just dealt with it. My Grandad tried helping by telling her we'd already discussed that subject. We didnt mind though. Gradually as things started going down hill and she started taking the medication. She could no longer do some of the things she loved to do for the family . She went out and bought cakes at christmas. Then she'd start getting confused about who was who etc, So we knew she couldnt help it and just went along with what she was saying. As time went on things started to get worse. Once the Alzheimer's kicked in Grandma went from the amazing woman she was to someone who looked and sounded like our grandma but just didnt act like her. Words and phrases began to make no sense. I took my daughter who was approx 6 month old to see my grandma and took a photo of her with my grandad and daughter. the following morning my grandma was rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke. She then survived that but her and my grandad were no longer in good enough health to look after themselves and ended up in a home. As time went on they went from that home to the home she finally finnished in. It was a great home at Burton Fleming near Bridlington called 'The Willows'. According to my grandad they were well looked after and now he wishes to spend the rest of his life there! However during the last few months my mum kept me updated about my grandmas downward spiral and we arranged to go and see her on the 28th march.
Thursday the 20th march my mum turned up at the door in a mess. She said my grandma had taken a turn for the worse and may only have 48hrs to live. Me and my sister Lindsay decided we'd go over and see her and to offer my mum and grandad some support. I turned up at the willows and was taken to the room where my grandma and grandad now lived. I looked at my grandma and didnt even recognise her. It was awfull she was so skinny and old looking, my poor grandma had lost power to speak and move and was fed only water and that was via a damp sponge. We all got very tearful and held her hand. We took several photo's of my grandad holding my grandma's hand and telling her how much he loved her. And some of the photo's included my sister Lindsay who at the time was hurting seeing what was once our grandma now unable to speak, move or even feed herself. Occasionally shed open her eyes. We all spoke to her and talked about our memories and what a wonderful woman she was. How she made us all laugh or told us off! The photo's were taken incase they we're the last. Unfortunately how little we knew, They we're. On Friday 21st march 2008 My grandma Betty Haigh passed away. Her final wish when she had the ability was to raise money for the Alzheimer's charity. That and to keep my grandmas memory going is what this web blog is for! Please help other people in the same situation. whether its just support, advice or a charity contribution.
Thank you.

Grandma we will always love you! xxx
Betty haigh
21/04/1930-21/03/2008

Memories

Grandad the day before he joined my grandma! may you rest in piece mate! we will always love and never forget you!











This section is for all the families memories and stories about my grandma.

the following was of read at the funeral today 31st march 2008.

Betty was born near Skipton the gate way to the dales. She would
go to Burnsall for a walk every Sunday in her younger days.
She worked at Skipton hospital as a nurse in maternity.
Betty came to Bridlington in 1953 and worked in various jobs.
Waitressing, Betty was the cook at Bridlington school for along
time
She loved to make cake and she would make them for everyone,
especially Christmas cakes.
Betty was helpful to everyone, especially the family she was a
great mum. She was always there for the family.
She would help the neighbours, she would cut hair, decorate,
Betty loved her garden.
Betty loved to go for day trips out, driving to Skipton, Blackpool
and lots of other places.
She was Bill's partner for 26 years and they were very happy
together.
She taught Bill to cook a little.
They have many happy memories especially the trip to the
Caladonian hotel in Edinburgh that was a treat and a half.
Betty didn't like flying or going on boats.
She did go across on the ferry to Jersey once.
She was frightened near to death when a huge racket was heard
But they were only testing the life boat
Betty will be missed for many, many years by many, many
people.

About the disease

I dont know a great deal about the disease all i know is that its some sort of disease that affects the brain. I believe it starts off as dementure and eventually progresses to alzheimers but you can follow the links from this site links section and see what the experts say! this site is a memorial site for my grandma who passed away 21 march 2008. Alzheimers affects the brain and eats away at it. you start by repeating yourself over and over again. Losing your memory and being a little forgetfull. Then through time you start losing recognition. You'll see people eg family and friends but not recognise them. Then as you deteriorate things start getting worse. Random senseless babbling, then eventually as things get worse you start to lose control of your surroundings. Its quiet a scarey illness in the way tha. Everything you once knew becomes strange aswell as everyone. Sometimes you can become almost childlike! eventually things get so bad that you can lose the ability to speak, then to feed yourself etc till eventually you cant do anything for yourself. bit by bit things deterriorate until the best thing is when you finally pass away and all the suffering is no more! This information is expert information its just what ive been informed throughout the stages of what happened to my grandma. that is why ive made this website in her memory to try help others throught the illness from the victims to they're families. if you have anything to add please email it to me-: barry.busby2@ukonline.co.uk

Your stories

If you have a story to tell you would like to add please email them to me at-: barry.busby2@ukonline.co.uk

Or log into my alzhiemers guestbook here

Links

The alzheimers society -: click here
Donations -: click here


Saint micheals Hospice -: click here
St. Micheals Hospice is a Harrogate charity and hospital that caters for the very sick and they're family in the final stages before the inevitable. They are very friendly and very helpfull and do allsorts of charity fundraising events and are probably one of the biggest charities in the area. Im sure they would be greatfull of any contribution or help available. Or even just a shoulder for the friends and families of the patients. They also sell little novelties and gifts for anyone wanting to purchase a little something in support? Thank you for taking your time to read this!

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