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Together again - two beautiful, young sisters taken by a killer disease
Family prepares funeral for Jodi Dunmore, a year after the death of her younger sister Lucinda
There were never more devoted sisters than Lucinda and Jodi Dunmore, two girls born 20 months apart who have now died within the same timespan – their lives claimed by the killer lung disease cystic fibrosis.
They were both remembered by their family this week as "fun-loving, beautiful girls", after 22-year-old Jodi died last Wednesday in Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire.
Younger sister Lucinda passed away in March last year.
The girls lived in Souldrop, and leave mum Eileen, dad Clinton, brothers James, Darren and Lee, and sister-in-law Anna.
Mrs Dunmore said of the two girls: "There were 20 months between them and they died 20 months apart.
"There was a time when we thought they had time on their side. Obviously not."
Jodi was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for a procedure last month, and transferred to Papworth following complications.
She had been due to graduate this year from King's College London, where she was studying geography, and was planning to take a gap year to visit Australia and Asia.
Jodi then wanted to return to university and study for a masters degree.
Lucinda had been enjoying a year out when she died in 2007, and was due to fly to Australia before going on to study business management at Nottingham University.
Mrs Dunmore said: "Jodi never actually got over losing Lucinda. She was absolutely terrified every time she got ill."
Mrs Dunmore said the girls were very close, more so as they grew up.
"They shared a lot between them. If one was worried, they would talk to each other," she said.
"They were both fun-loving, beautiful girls. All the letters I have received from people say the same, what fun they were and what gorgeous girls they were."
But, Mrs Dunmore added, the family had been living with a death sentence.
"Up until Lucinda died, we thought treatment would become better, that their health would improve somehow," she said. "I guess a cure was too much to ask for."
The disease, caused by a defective gene, results in internal organs becoming clogged, causing infection and inflammation.
But, Mrs Dunmore said: "Cystic fibrosis lived with them, rather than them living with cystic fibrosis. They both lived their lives, they went skiing, water skiing, clay pigeon shooting, they did everything they wanted because we always knew their lives would be short.
"We did not know it would be this short."
Both girls were former pupils at Kimbolton School and loved to dance, Jodi in particular taking part in shows at the Sharnbrook Mill Theatre.
The family remembered Jodi as a happy party-lover, while Lucinda was more laid-back.
Mrs Dunmore said: "It's such a waste of such beautiful, clever girls with ambition.
"Even during their last weeks in hospital they looked so well, the problem was on the inside. A lot of Jodi's friends in London did not even know she was ill."
The family has raised more than 100,000 for cystic fibrosis charities over the last 20 years. And the next goal comes next June, when James and Lee have entered the Blenheim Triathlon with 20 friends.
Jodi's funeral takes place at 2pm on Monday, December 1 at St Peter's Church in Sharnbrook.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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