A cancer patient with just months to live is planning his own grim reaper-themed ‘death party’ this weekend and say he’s the ‘happiest I’ve ever been.’
Russ Pegrum, 48, from Waltham Abbey, Hertfordshire, will have beer and pizza at his unusual ‘wake’ this Saturday, with family and old school friends due to dress up in grim reaper costumes.
To make the most out of his final days, this former factory worker who had been diagnosed with bowel carcinoma in 2018 quit chemotherapy.
Doctors say he has just months to live – and Russ, who has a 9cm tumour, doesn’t know if he’ll reach his next birthday in March.
Russ Pegrum of Waltham Abbey in Hertfordshire was recently diagnosed with Bowel cancer. In September 2018, he was told that doctors couldn’t help him. He chose to stop chemotherapy and plan his own “wake,” which will be held this Saturday
But Russ said that he is ‘the happiest I’ve been’ after organising his own wake and even picking out a coffin for his funeral.
Russ said: ‘I’ve called it my “death party”.
‘It sounds a bit morbid but it’s making light of it and having a bit of fun.
‘I’m wearing a shirt with skulls on it. A friend bought a grim reaper costume.
Russ admitted that some might find Russ’ ‘death party’ morbid. However, he said it was a way to make light of his fate.
Russ had been diagnosed 3 years ago and lost 27kg in his treatment. Although he was declared in remission by March, the cancer spread again.
‘I’ve got people coming from school days and people I haven’t seen for 30 odd years.’
Russ’ cancer went into remission in March but it returned three months later and he restarted chemotherapy.
In September doctors advised Russ that he could not continue his treatment. He decided to stop the therapy, saying that he was’staring at walls at home’.
After chemo, he lost 27kg and needs to be able travel far distances in a wheelchair.
Russ shares his home with Brenda (left) and Laurence (right). For his funeral, the cancer patient wishes his family to be grim reapers.
Pictured is Russ at the pool. For long-distance trips, Russ needs to be able to use a wheelchair.
Pictured is Russ wearing a Halloween costume. According to him, arranging his funeral gives him peace of mind.
Russ who lives in the same house as Brenda and Laurence said that after a month, he felt 100 percent better.
‘Since quitting chemo I’ve learnt to enjoy my life. These were some of the most joyful months in my life.
‘Planning a funeral is a fairly unusual experience but it’s given me peace of mind.
‘I’ve picked out the coffin and music, and written my own eulogy. This was a very pleasant experience.
‘When the time comes everything will be how I’d like it to be.’