Student had to look after her dying granny
STUDENT Francessca Lang, 22, was the sole carer for her terminally ill grandmother as she completed her degree.
Joan Crookson, 79, was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer in September 2016.
Francessca, from South Yorks, said: “I was exhausted because I was living in Huddersfield for my degree and caring for her in Barnsley, an hour away. There was no one else to care for her apart from me and she was so ill.”
Joan was eligible for attendance allowance to help pay for carers but it wouldn’t have covered the cost of full-time care. Francessca took on all of the day-to-day care of Joan, including making her comfortable and attending doctors appointments with her.
She applied for it for Joan, but by the time it was sorted Joan was in hospital about to die. Francessca said: “It was a nightmare from start to finish.”