A Lincolnshire woman who suffered from a rare disorder had her dying wish granted with all members of her family.
Janine Baxter died aged just 48 on October 22 after a long battle with Granulomatosis with polyangiitis – a rare condition which affects the blood vessels in the body, including the ears, nose, sinuses, kidneys and lungs where they become inflamed.
Janine was diagnosed with the illness aged just 19 while she was a student at Oxford University.
And she was just four weeks away from completing her teaching training qualification when she was forced to end her studies due to the illness.
Janine’s condition caused her problems with breathing, pain in her joints and eventually led to her speech becoming slurred.
But she still made sure she was there to celebrate her mum’s 80th birthday and even gave a speech – just two weeks before her death.
Janine’s sister, Paula Featherby, 54, said: “She was always smiling – she just fought until the bitter end.
“She was given three to six months to live last year and just kept fighting.
“She was so selfless. After she died, all of the family were given individual boxes filled with personal gifts and photos, organised by Janine.
“That’s the kind of person she was.”
(Image: Christian Low)
Janine loved children but was unable to have any herself due to her condition.
She was known among many families in Boston, having served as a guide leader for more than 10 years.
Ms Featherby said: “Children loved her – she doted on my son. When she was on placement at university, she was in her element.
“Children were her life.”
Having Granulomatosis with polyangiitis from such an early age meant that Janine’s health was a constant worry for the family.
Janine, though, rarely complained about her condition to her family who “meant everything to her”, according to her sister.
For that reason, Janine asked the Honey Rose Foundation for a family portrait to be taken showing all four generations of the family as her wish before she passed away.
The picture includes the youngest member of the family, baby Daisy, who was just five weeks old when the photograph was taken.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is an uncommon disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in your nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and kidneys.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly called Wegener’s granulomatosis, is one of a group of blood vessel disorders called vasculitis. It slows blood flow to some of your organs. The affected tissues may develop areas of inflammation called granulomas, which sometimes affect how these organs work.
Early diagnosis and treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis may lead to a full recovery. Without treatment, granulomatosis with polyangiitis can be fatal.
The Honey Rose Foundation has been running since 2004.
It is the only charity in the UK that grants wishes for over 40s.
Lynn Duffy, 64, chief executive and founder of the Honey Rose Foundation said: “Our aim is to help people, to do something special for them. It brings families together.
“Janine was thrilled to bits, I know it meant the world to her.”
To find out more about the Honey Rose Foundation you can visit their website www.honeyrosefoundation.org.uk. Alternatively, you can email them at lynn@honeyrosefoundation.org.uk.
