‘Graham died of cancer but because of Covid’
WIDOW’S HEARTBREAK AS ‘EVERYTHING WENT ON HOLD’ FOR VIRUS
“WE’LL never know the true amount of deaths that Covid is responsible for, there won’t be just Graham, there’ll be others as well.”
For the first time since she wed Graham, when she was 17 years old, Tina Grady is living alone.
Her husband died in January and she is struggling to come to terms, not only with his death she says, but how he died.
“Graham died of cancer but because of Covid,” she said.
“Not because he had it, but because everything went on hold for it.
“How can you push cancer to one side? All we’re ever told is catch it early but everything’s been put on hold and all for Covid.
“It’s Covid this, Covid that, I understand that Covid is awful and it’s killed thousands but there are other things killing people, including my husband. Cancer patients have been failed, it’s not good enough, they deserve more.
“Because of the way things have been done my husband is dead, I’m a widow.”
Tina told the Mercury that failings in Graham’s care started well before Covid had ever been heard of.
A well and healthy 77-year-old, Graham only retired from his role at Glen Gorse Golf Club a couple of years ago.
A dad of two with two grandchildren, he was a family man.
“He was helpful, kind, sociable, loved his friends, a people person. I don’t think he knew how loved he was. He was very well thought-of,” Tina said.
The pair were wed for 46 years and lived in Great Glen for 19.
“Reading back through his medical records, it’s a catalogue of errors. I thought it might help me accept what’s happened, but I can’t believe it,” she said.
“He had surgery to remove a sarcoma back in 2012. There’s a letter in his records saying that in retrospect it was there since 2007. We were never told that despite having been back and forth to the doctors beforehand.
“By the time it was removed it was the size of a small football. They said it was his scoliosis up until then but he knew there was more to it than that.”
After the tumour was removed, Graham was told he did not need any further treatment but he would be reviewed yearly at Leicester Royal Infirmary in case the cancer returned.
It was early 2020 when he started to experience leg pain. He made an appointment with his GP, at South
Leicestershire Medical Practice, Smeeton Road, Kibworth Beauchamp.
The consultation was a virtual one. With the coronavirus crisis having started, GP surgeries were not seeing as many patients face to face. Assurances were made and Graham was told the cause of the pain was sciatica and sent a leaflet with some physio exercises sent in the post. “We didn’t think it was anything sinister. Graham went for physio but the pain was still there.
“He then had his yearly cancer check at the infirmary in August. He told his consultant about the pain,
was told the X-ray was okay but his consultant did refer him for an MRI due to the pain.”
But Graham never got the results. “We assumed that having not heard anything there was nothing for us to be worried about. In fact, all that time cancer was having a party in his body and no one spotted it.
“I just wish now, and I’d say this to everyone else, push harder if you think there’s something wrong. Ask for the tests, make the phone calls, send the emails.”
It was November when Graham’s leg pain started to worsen. “He told me his legs weren’t doing what he wanted them to, he couldn’t feel them properly. It all happened very quickly, within a week.
“He was told it was cancer, then admitted to the infirmary for scans.
“All of a sudden it was in various places. They spoke about treatment then retracted it. They didn’t acknowledge the leg pain, which was noted on his records as nerve impingement, and said he wasn’t suitable for treatment as he was bedbound.”
Tina said she still cannot get over the way Graham’s life ended. His family remain in shock.
“From the very first time the GP didn’t refer him, to the video call and a physio leaflet. He was left sitting in A&E for hours and hours, he was transferred from one hospital to another for treatment and not given any pain medication.
“He was pressured into signing a DNR form, which we later managed to get withdrawn, but then we found they got him to agree to another one and also told him he wasn’t a candidate for resuscitation. They completed three within the six weeks he spent in hospital.
“He went through all that this cruel disease did to him, because of another cruel disease.
“I have to speak up for him, I promised him I would. The last 10 weeks of his life were 10 awful weeks.
“Of course the last weeks are always awful but they didn’t need to be how they were, and if it weren’t for Covid they wouldn’t have been.
“I don’t pretend to have the answers but the health system has gone downhill, the nurses, healthand care assistants, the hard workers as I call them were lovely and then it all falls down.
“You can’t ignore one problem to solve another.”
Adding to Tina’s concern was a text message received just days after Graham was discharged from the cancer ward informing him he had tested positive for coronavirus after a test done during his stay at the infirmary.
“People have cancer, people have Covid. My husband ended up with both.
“A few days before he died I asked him what he made of it all and he just said ‘I’m waiting for someone to help me, but nobody seems to.’ It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t do anything.”
Graham’s condition worsened and having decided he wanted to die at home, arrangements were in place for Loros to support the family. But as he approached his final hours, no one came to the family’s aid.
“My husband died with his family around him, but no medical support. “We didn’t know what was happening, that it was Graham’s last day and we weren’t helped to know what to expect or what we could do to help him.
“My husband was dying and I couldn’t do anything to help him. I’m scared that he was scared and panicking because we were. It was horrible.
“Everything was traumatic from start to finish and something none of us, his family, will ever forget.”
A spokesman for Leicester’s hospitals said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Grady’s family at this difficult time. As a trust, we encourage anyone who has any concerns with the care that they or their loved ones receive to contact us directly so the concerns can be investigated thoroughly.”
A Loros spokesman said: “We are currently in touch with the family about their recent experiences and are looking into the issues raised. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
The Mercury has made contact with South Leicestershire Medical Practice and is awaiting a response.
How can you push cancer to one side? everything’s been put on hold and all for Covid
Tiny Grady
He went through all that this cruel disease did to him, because of another cruel disease Tina, talking about husband Graham, above