Editorial
BBC’s Deborah James has devastatingly said that she ‘wants to die at her parents’ home’ in her final podcast for You, Me and the Big C.
The presenter, who has bowel cancer, has revealed that she plans to spend her last days at her mum and dad’s bungalow in Woking.
She explained: “As much as I love London I can’t even get up the steps to pee, it’s not practical and my parents live in a bungalow. And I can see greenery and my whole family can come here.
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“It’s kind of where I’ve always wanted to die, weirdly. I’ve always had that in mind. I think I always knew I didn’t want to be at my London home. It doesn’t feel right to me.”
James went on to reveal that another reason she didn’t want to die at her London property is because of her kids.
Heartbreakingly, she continued: “There’s nothing I can describe that feels relaxing in that capacity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely place but I also think it’s not right for me but it means the kids can go back there and they don’t have those medical equipment scars faced everywhere.
“It can continue to be their home without those memories, which might be a good thing.”
James took to Instagram on May 10 and shared a heartbreaking statement in which she said her body isn’t ‘playing ball’.
She wrote: “The message I never wanted to write. We have tried everything, but my body simply isn’t playing ball. My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at-home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.
“Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams. I know we have left no stone unturned.”
James continued: “But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just can’t continue anymore.
“In over 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my final Christmas, how I wouldn’t see my 40th birthday nor see my kids go to secondary school – I never envisaged writing the one where I would actually say goodbye.”
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