Michelle Cashmore

❤️‍🩹 My Dad was a man who believed you had to have suffered something traumatic in life to be “depressed” and didn’t believe he fit in that category, we all tried to explain to him that he was severely depressed We watched as his mental health declined and his pain worsen as he got more and more depressed. My Dads mental health took a turn earlier this year after having double bypass heart surgery in December of 2023 🫀Dad went into surgery for a triple bypass and a stent was to be put on his heart, however when they went in they replaced the aortic valve and decided on a double bypass and that a triple wasn’t necessary even though the cardiologist told him that the main artery that lead to his stomach was 50% blocked and this was the cause of his gut problems, and then no stent was input either My Dad was so relieved that they had finally found the cause and he would start living again and not just existing He was so hopeful the surgery would help with his chronic stomach pains. There was a particular cardiologist that said to dad, before his surgery “This is a good result Garry I'm happy for you, You will be a new man after the surgery!!” 😄 Upon waking he had learned that they did not unblock the artery to his stomach as it wasn’t apparently not necessary. Dad’s fear of the pain returning in his stomach started to consume him, I tried to reassure him to focus on his recovery and to not worry about the stomach pains. However After just a few wks of recovery after the surgery, the stomach pains, did in fact return 😔 🏥 My Dad advocated for himself with Constant doctors appointments and check ups but they still could not find what the cause was and referred him to pain management All this had taken a toll on his mental health as he was losing hope in the system that we all trust will help us. ❤️‍🩹 On the 20th of July my brother inlaw had sat with my Dad all day as he shared the fears that he was feeling and what he could do to stop the pain, doing something sinister towards himself. My brother in law having a true understanding himself of his own demons, that he battled with and what dad was going through, did not feel it was right to leave dad alone with his demons. 📞 He sat with him Listening to the help line call and 000 calls that dad made asking for help To only hear that they dismissed him and deemed his actions as a “Cry for help” and he was not an immediate issue as he was of no danger in that moment to himself or others. 💔 On the 22nd of July he lost his battle with the demon and pain I am raising funds to go towards helping others to get better systems in place to help those who need it For the whole month of October 🚶🏻‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️ I am walking/riding/running to raise awareness for people to be aware what mental and physical effects depression can do to your body. In the loving memory of my Dad Garry James Pascoe 🫙 Every little bit counts