My beautiful goddaughter Jill was born on October 5th 1979; she was only 24 when she left us after a long and bravely fought battle with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is the UK's most common life-threatening genetic disease. It affects a number of organs in the body especially the lungs and pancreas by clogging them with thick, sticky mucus. Doctors have identified the faulty gene and scientists are working to find ways of repairing or replacing it. One of the main objectives of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is to fund this important and potentially life saving work.

Jill achieved so much during her short life; she was an amazing artist; obtained a degree, an award from the C F Trust and brought so much fun and laughter into our lives. We still miss her so much.

She grew up in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and did well at school. She was a popular pupil who loved gymnastics and art. After leaving school she moved to Nottingham and enrolled at Nottingham Trent University to study art. She always came up with amazing ideas for her artwork, one of her projects involved making a quilt out of cabbage leaves and it was displayed on a bed complete with Jill sleeping in it! She was ill for weeks afterwards because the decaying leaves affected her lungs, but she didn't mind suffering for her art and using it to portray her illness. To her the rotting leaves represented her lungs.

In 2002 her illness really took hold, she moved back to London in order to be closer to the Brompton Hospital where she was being treated and spent much of her later life. Despite this Jill never complained and was loved by all the hospital staff. She decorated her hospital room with fairy lights and anything pink. Pink was a colour that pretty much summed Jill up, she wore often and at times even her hair was pink!

In February 2004 Jill underwent a double lung transplant. We hoped it would lead to a better quality of life for her and our thoughts and prayers were with the family who lost a child in order to give Jill the gift of life. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be; initially Jill appeared to be doing well but after three months she developed an infection in her heart, lungs and brain. She underwent heart surgery, there were complications, her vital organs were shutting down and there was nothing more the doctors could do. Only the life support machine was keeping her alive. Her family and I were with her at the end, holding her hands and telling her how much we loved her as she slipped peacefully away on 9th May 2004. Jill was free of pain and suffering but we were devastated.

I set up this memorial website in her name, help to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and awareness about this life threatening disease. I try to remember the good times, like the day I was pushing Jill over a bridge when she had to use a wheel chair. Gathering speed I asked her where the brake was. She replied there wasn't one! Picture if you will Jill gripping the arms of the wheelchair and me hanging on to the handles for dear life at 60mph whilst approaching a dual carriageway! Then there was the time in hospital where we swapped places and I nearly got wheeled off to x-ray! There was also the small incident with my shoes being used to grow plants in. I didn't know about it until I saw her photographs from the exhibition!

I saved two of her last text messages and one day shortly after she died I asked for a sign she was OK. Both messages mysteriously re-sent themselves to me a matter of hours later with "sender unknown" for the number. One in particular was about Concorde. Jill loved Concorde and would go and watch it take off or land at Heathrow airport whenever she was well enough. I knew it was her way of letting me know she was alright and up there with Concorde.

I was Jill's godmother; she always called me her "fairy godmother". Even now it’s hard to carry on without her, particularly at Christmas, her birthday or anniversary. Sometimes I still pick up something pink when I’m shopping, thinking Jill would love this and then I remember. I would always consult her about what I should wear if I was going somewhere special and ask her advice about things in general. She was wise beyond her years and used to say I needed someone to look after me. Six months after she died I met up with an old friend whom I hadn't seen for years and we started seeing each other. He understood my need to talk about Jill and have what he refers to as my ‘Jill moments’ where I recall something amusing or I'm just thinking about her a lot. We married in 2006; he's the love of my life and takes care of me. I know it’s all down to Jill – making sure someone is looking after me!

Jeane 




A subject very dear to my heart, there are millions of people in the UK waiting for donated organs, and millions dying through the lack of donated organs.

It’s easy to change this. Firstly, make sure your family and friends know about your wishes to become a donor. You can sign up to be an organ donor and carry a donor card. The card is basically evidence of your wishes.

Please let’s help to put a stop people dying from this shortage.

You can sign up online: www.uktransplant.org.uk

I was filmed for a paranormal documentary last year which I dedicated to the memory of Jill (see photo in album.)

Jeane

As a symbolic gesture following their wedding on 21st March 2006, Jeane and Les released white doves at Orsett Hall Essex in memory of Jill. See photo album.