Linda has a special message

10:19am Monday 21st April 2008

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"WHEN your mortality is threatened, you realise that possessions are simply not important," a courageous Ludlow woman has revealed while discussing her battle with cancer.

But Linda Berry, a patient at the Kemp Hospice in Tenbury, has created an extra precious gift to leave her three sons, Dale, Dan and Jasper, after she hit on an idea to create a spoken message for her family.

Staff at Kemp Hospice were so inspired by Linda's idea that they have designated a grant to buy a special audio recording device so patients can make special messages and audio diaries.

Linda, from Ludford, was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. "After my last surgery they gave me two years so I thought I should put everything in order."

Linda has been supported by her sons and husband Goff but she knew there were things that she wanted to say that were not so easy in person.

"I thought about what to tell the boys and how to send them a message," said Linda, who regularly attends meetings at the hospice.

Linda's initial idea was to write them all letters but it presented problems for her because she has difficulty with her sight.

A friend suggested using a Sony recorder. Linda added: "It was so much more personal and so easy to do. I hope it will help a lot more patients. I felt a great relief because I have done this now. It is so difficult to get the opportunity to say what's in your heart. You can live with cancer and have a quality of life - you can't lose your joy of living."

Speaking of the hospice, Linda, who has always been a keen horsewoman, added: "To be with people who understand terminal illness is very comforting. I try to keep going I am still really desperate to try and continue to ride my horse."

Now the equipment is being used by another patient to record an audio diary of her treatment and what it has been like to live with a life-threatening illness.