To our great sadness, our colleague and friend, Audrey Crawford (Finnegan), – Auders as we all knew her – passed away from mesothelioma on 13 March 2013.
Audrey first came to our office in April 2012 saying that she had mesothelioma and would like to help. Audrey was working as a GP and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009.
She had contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos whilst working as a junior doctor at Belvedere Hospital, Glasgow. She retired from practice when she was diagnosed.
Audrey later intimated to us that she had been driving past our office and felt something draw her in. Little did we realise at that time how much of an inspiration and friend she would become to all of us.
Although time was precious, she tirelessly gave so much to the charity; touching everyone who met her with her humour, patience and empathy. Audrey threw herself wholeheartedly into everything. One minute she would be helping to organise fundraising nights, the next sharing her experiences with others diagnosed with mesothelioma at our support groups, providing a great source of comfort and hope for many.
At our commemoration of National Mesothelioma Day 2012, in Glasgow City Chambers, Audrey spoke about her experiences of being diagnosed with mesothelioma. It moved some in the audience to tears and inspired all who were privileged enough to be there to hear it.
Shortly before she died, Audrey had written her account of her journey following diagnosis of mesothelioma.
I have tried to look back and think about how I felt at the time of diagnosis, was I angry or bitter? I don’t think I was either of these. The overriding emotion I felt was one of sadness that in some way my life would seem unfulfilled and incomplete.
Audrey had so many roles in her life, but for us, she was simply ‘Auders’. A true and much-loved friend whose passing will leave a void in the lives of all her friends here. Our thoughts and our prayers are with her family.
