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.
The former factory worker, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018, quit chemotherapy in September to make the most of his final days.
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, 48, from Waltham Abbey, Hertfordshire, who was diagnosed with Bowel cancer in 2018, was told in September that there was nothing doctors could do to help him. He decided to quite chemotherapy and to plan his own ‘wake,’ which will take place 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. One friend has bought a grim reaper costume.
While he admitted some people might find his ‘death party’ morbid, Russ said it is just a way of making light of his fate
After being diagnosed three years ago, Russ lost 27kg during his chemotherapy treatment. He was in remission in March but the cancer has since started spreading 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.
By September, doctors told him there was nothing more to be done and Russ opted to quit his treatment, which had left him ‘staring at the walls at home’.
He lost 27kg during his chemo and now needs a wheelchair to travel long distances.
Russ lives with his parents, Brenda, left and Laurence, top right, pictured. The cancer patient wants his loved ones to dress as grim reapers for his wake
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Pictured: Russ playing pool. The 48-year-old now needs a wheelchair to cover long-distance journeys
Pictured: Russ hat a Halloween party. He has said that planning his own funeral has given him ‘peace of mind’
Russ, who lives with mum Brenda and dad Laurence, said: ‘I decided to stop the chemo and within a month I felt 100 times better.
‘Since quitting chemo I’ve learnt to enjoy my life. These have been among the happiest months of 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. I found it quite enjoyable really.
‘When the time comes everything will be how I’d like it to be.’
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