In their Middlesborough, England, house, Shirley Nunn, 67, and her son Steven, 50, were discovered dead in 2021. A recent investigation has now turned up shocking information about the tragedy, which may have been avoided.
67-year-old Shirley Nunn was given a heartbreaking diagnosis in October 2021.
When the doctors informed Shirley that her cancer was terminal, she knew that her death was imminent. She was devastated by this news, but she seemed to be even more concerned about how her son, Steven, would handle her absence.
Since Steven was eleven years old and suffered a terrible accident, Shirley had been his full-time caregiver. He suffered significant brain damage and was put in a coma as a result of the accident. Even after multiple surgeries to help him recover and save his life, Steven’s injuries left him unable to live on his own.
He had a great time with his carer at the boro match.
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 by Shirley Nunn
In addition to having cerebral palsy and epilepsy, he also had trouble controlling his emotions, learning, and moving about.
Shirley became his full-time caregiver as a consequence. She had been Steven’s main support system since her husband died of cancer, with help from adult social care, which had been involved in his care since 2005.
Stage 3 lung cancer
As was previously noted, Shirley was given a terminal diagnosis of lung cancer in 2021 after the disease advanced to her brain, spine, and pelvis. She was first diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.
In spite of this heartbreaking diagnosis, Shirley kept taking care of her cherished kid. Even though the hospital and Shirley herself arranged for her to die at home, she was determined to aid Steven in any way she could. But she didn’t have an easy go of it, and according to a Domestic Homicide Review, Ms. Nunn had been depressed and contemplating suicide recently.
The report emphasized how Ms. Nunn, who was described as “loving and caring,” was more concerned about her son’s ability to handle life without her than with her own failing health.
It showed that she had shed tears twice as she considered how her health was deteriorating.
The clothes fit perfectly, thanks to Liam xx and Chantel.
Published on Monday, December 28, 2015 by Shirley Nunn
Ms. Nunn’s cancer-related problems led to her hospitalization once more in October 2021.
The staff was told that she “preferred to die at home” and that palliative care was being set up for her there.
Tragically, two days after being released from the hospital, her sister summoned the police to her house, where they discovered Shirley and Steven dead. This was precisely two years to the day after her husband Paul also died of cancer.
Shirley Nunn may have been spared this heartache if she had gotten the proper assistance, but the inquiry into the unfortunate deaths showed that authorities missed important opportunities to support her. It was obvious that Shirley was emotionally distressed and extremely vulnerable in the weeks before her death.
“Always gave his needs priority”
When it came to her son’s future, she seemed compelled to act independently since she was not receiving the assistance she much needed.
Although experts did not completely comprehend the necessity of this, the severity of the malignancy should have guaranteed that attention was focused on [Ms. Nunn’s] psychological and care situation as soon as possible. As much attention should have been paid to her mental health as to her physical health, the investigation said.
Throughout her son’s existence, [Ms. Nunn] had shown him love and care, and she had unquestionably put his needs first. We can only infer that she made the ultimately fatal decision because she believed there was no other way to meet [Steven’s] continuing care and support needs.
This sad tale calls into question how we help people who are going through unthinkable hardships, which is both uncomfortable and important.
Was it the system’s failure that drove Shirley Nunn to make this painful decision, or was it her everlasting love for her son? Is there more we can do to support caregivers’ mental health?
To what extent does society have an obligation to make sure Shirley and others like her don’t feel like they have no other choice? Tell us your thoughts: is there anything more we can do to support needy families, or might this tragedy have been avoided with the proper care?
