Poverty-stricken and sad death
A man struck down by cancer – who was forced to spend his last days living in near poverty – has died.
Earlier this year, the Manawatu Standard highlighted the plight of Kurt Seddon, 29, whose life was turned upside down when a terminal melanoma diagnosis left him and his husband both struggling to get by on the benefit.
Seddon died on Tuesday morning. A funeral was held on Friday.
He and husband Russell Broom were both working as cleaners two years ago and were planning a future in Palmerston North when their lives were cruelly turned around by the news.
Their woes were compounded when they were forced into a state house and had only $250 a week to live off.
The couple were also upset Seddon’s cancer was not picked up earlier by Palmerston North Hospital staff, but the hospital said Seddon should have seen a GP after it gave him the all-clear.
Broom told the Standard he was with Seddon in his final moments.
The past few weeks were full on and it would take time for Broom to deal with Seddon’s death.
‘‘It’s horrible knowing he is not going to be home.’’
Broom was staying with family and had good friends for support. He said he promised Seddon he would continue to speak out about their battle.
The Standard spoke to Seddon last month. He said the couple had struggled for a few years.
‘‘But when we were working, we started to get into a decent position for once in our lives and it was all snatched away,’’ he said. ‘‘Some days I think I’m cursed.’’ Broom quit his job to care for
"Some days I think I'm cursed." Kurt Seddon, who died on Tuesday
Seddon, but their final days together turned into ‘‘a nightmare’’.
‘‘I’d do anything to get given a second chance to live. I’m only young. You think that your life would count for something,’’ Seddon said.
The couple had struggled to pay their bills and to put food on the table.
They were upset with the Midcentral District Health Board, after they went to Palmerston North Hospital when Seddon took ill and were told initially he did not have cancer.
Broom said this week they meet with DHB management before Seddon died, but the pair got nothing out of it.
The couple lost faith in the health system, believing Seddon’s cancer should have been picked up earlier.
Seddon noticed a big mole on his thigh that had changed colour, in late 2015. He could not afford a GP visit, so went to Palmerston North Hospital’s Emergency Department.
He said he was told the mole was not cancerous, but was advised to see his GP.
Broom said because they could not afford it, they left it at that, with the understanding the mole was not a danger.
When Seddon’s health worsened, he went back to hospital in March 2016, when a biopsy confirmed he had stage four melanoma.
Midcentral DHB clinical services and transformation general manager Mike Grant previously said when Seddon first visited the emergency department he was assessed and advised that he mole did not require immediate treatment.
Grant said Seddon was ‘‘strongly advised’’ to follow up with his GP.