Barbara was born in Sheffield in 1957 and has lived in the city all her life. She has two younger brothers and loved sport at school.
When Barbara was about to leave school, aged 16, her mother lost her sight, and a baby. Family members were around to care for her and Barbara took a job as a machinist in a clothing factory, before moving to other forms of employment.
Barbara's mother’s condition was congenital and, aged 36, Barbara also became blind. Then in 1997, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and soon afterwards she developed lung cancer. In addition, her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998.
Barbara particularly enjoys spending time at the day care centre, where she enjoys the social interaction.
Do you know that the hospice is here for you? Is it reassuring to think there is something in the background to help if you need it?
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah it is. He said to me, when I have that scan, when I go back to see him, 11th November, he’ll have ’t results then. So¸ Barbara, I’ve just got to hope for ’t best."
How are you feeling about things?
"I just feel so down. And I’m not sleeping at night, not sleeping at all at night."
Why do you think that is? Is it because you’re frightened or …?
"Yeah. Yeah and thinking, you know, about ’t kids and Terry and…"
And that you don’t want to leave them.
"And how much time you’ve got left."
"Nothing helps you to cope."
You've come through with the help of your family, but the strength has been in you as well, hasn’t it?
"I always think …. there’s so many people, there’s, you know, bedridden and, and I think, oh … keep going, keep going for my kids and Terry and, my family."
