The Passing of Sue Barton

Poor Sue - had been ill, suffering from a blood disorder at the age of 32 years - pre-leukemic.

I was in my my maisonette in Love Walk, it was 1985. Tom was toddling around the house. The phone went - Sue had been in an accident, she had accidentally fallen from a train in Carmarthen, she was critically ill. 

A night of sleeplessness - and in the morning I was on a train from Paddington to Swansea. Sue was critically ill in Morriston Hospital ITU in Swansea. 

I arrived in ITU. She was Intubated and ventilated, on Life Support. a serious Head Injury. I have an overwhelming sense of "Nothing" - I am "Blank".

The days passed, I was staying with my parents in Ferryside. I wept silently and alone  as I walked through the village.

And then a day. I sat by her hospital bed. I was taken aside by the medical and nursing team. Sue was dead.










Again I sat by her bed - the ventilator, pumps and monitor were all turned off - a nurse sat with me - there was eventual stillness , her heart stopped - her eyes opened, a death reflex - but she was not there. Sue passed.....    

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