‘Special’ nurse always put others first
TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated nurse who had a passion for caring for others – even through her own cancer battle.
Jeanette Bailey loved the NHS, dedicating 35 years of her life to the nursing profession as well as raising her own family.
But at the age of 27, just as Jeanette was working towards becoming a state registered nurse at North Manchester General, she was diagnosed with leukaemia. At the time the mum-of-three was told it wouldn’t be possible to carry out a bone marrow transplant due to low funds in the NHS.
Undeterred, Jeanette found a specialist doctor in London who could help her and eventually she found her own donor. The bone marrow transplant was successful, allowing Jeanette to enjoy many more years with her husband Craig and their children Gemma, Daniel and Kristina. It also meant she was able to continue doing what she loved – nursing – and progress in her career.
She passed her conversion course and joined St Mary’s Hospital where she became a theatre sister.
Sadly the gran-of-two suffered from health complications for the rest of her life and in 2016 her condition quickly deteriorated. The much-loved nurse died in hospital on February 18, aged 53.
Daughter Gemma said: “Everyone loved my mum. I think her passion for nursing stemmed from when she cared for and lost her mum aged 18.
“She went on to dedicate her entire life to the NHS and caring for other people. She was a special person. A humble, genuine woman who appreciated life and lived hers to the full. Even when she was very ill and couldn’t walk, she still wanted to go into St Mary’s and be a nurse. She fought until her very last breath.”
Jeanette’s funeral was being held today at Dukinfield Crematorium at 2.30pm. The family have asked for any donations to be made to Macmillan Cancer Support.