Grandma Eileen and Poem

Grandma Eileen

Grandma Eileen was an inspiring lady. She always saw the best in people. She had a constant, positive, energetic buzz around her which made her so enjoyable to be around – we had so many giggling fits together.

She loved to cook and was always trying to get fitter. My last moments spent with Eileen 3 days before she passed away were doing leg exercises together in her bedroom. A friend had asked for a picture of her and when asked to pose, she stuck 2 big thumbs up and revealed her cheeky smile – this picture is exactly how I remember her.

It seems unfair to them that their mum was robbed of her sight due to one of the rarest neurological diseases.

With bravery, dignity, and many smiles, Eileen managed her new dark world. She focused on her ears and listened to lots of music, sometimes throughout the night when sleeping was difficult. Her team of specialists in Liverpool were surprised and full of praise for the youthful 80 + year old lady from Hornsea, who laughed in the face of NMO and always maintained she would improve - if not get completely better.

Travelling from hornsea to Liverpool for consultations (a coast to coast journey) was testing and I would love for more doctors to understand the condition more to prevent future patients having to travel such distances in order to seek help.

I want to raise money for NMO and the Brain charity to fund research in this area. My main aim however is to raise awareness of this condition.

Here is a poem that I wrote about her called 'My wonderful nutty grandma'

We are all here together, you central to our hearts and minds, Ive got multiple memories I would like to rewind.

Pride, happiness and love were amongst your best traits, But still nobody comes close to your lemon drizzle cakes.

You were so full of surprises, 2 footed jumps into your knickers and constantly doing your exercises.

Waltzing and singing around your kitchen floor, we all knew this crazy lady had lots of tricks in her store.

So dedicated you were to being our number one fan, never missing any sports fixtures even under the doctors ban

Your will power was so strong, you never faltered in the belief, that the third letter r theory would bring you financial relief.



The thing ill miss the most is your hysterical laughter, wetting yourself in public, what an absolute disaster.

Ill cherish these memories and let them live on, I know you will be watching us, giggling away with Grandad Don.

Now I am standing up here, lots of faces looking at me unsure, don’t worry grandma, ill tell them, chicken soup and Vaseline is the cure.

Whenever I was down and my eyes filled with tears, you always protected me and helped to conquer my fears.



Ive had moments wishing I could hear your voice one last time, for now though, my granny Elvis recordings will be just fine.

We will treasure the letters you sent when we moved out of town, despite the blanks when you wrote with your pen upside down

These regular messages and constantly keeping in touch was just another way you showed how you loved us so much

But from ear to ear, you always had a smile, everyone was aware you would go the extra mile

So I presume watching now, it is easy to understand, you’ve influenced all of our lives by offering an extra hand

My poem ends here but you will never disappear, in our heart and minds you will stay, every night and every day.