A woman who juggles long shifts with caring for her sister and terminally ill brother-in-law has been nominated for a Merton Civic Award.

Patricia Brookman, 57, works more than 10 hour shifts each day as a nursery assistant at St Mary’s School in Carshalton, but still always makes time to care for her family in Morden.

Her sister, Sharon Goodwins, has had Common Variable Immune Deficiency since 2007 which means she has to take anti-bodies just to get through each day.

She will be on a drip for the rest of her life and has to receive regular blood transfusions.

Her husband, who is 57, has terminal cancer while her 11 year old son has a range of allergies.

One night Mrs Goodwin's son fell very ill with swine flu and desperately needed medication so Ms Brookman went out to find a late night chemist.

Mrs Goodwins, 51, from Morden describes her as "one in a million" and cannot understand how she finds enough time in the day.

Ms Brookman is around at any time of day or night for them, does their shopping, housework, gets their medication, takes them to hospital and is by their bedside when they need her.

Mrs Goodwins said: "She is my starlight, she loves us all so much and I don’t know what we would do without her.

"She is the most fantastic woman I’ve ever known and we couldn’t wish for a better person to be at the other end of the phone, she is just marvellous."

Ms Brookman has been nominated in the carer award category.

If you would like to nominate someone you know for a Merton Civic Award click here for more information. 

 

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