Patrick joined his mother in gardening, remodeling their house, and doing outdoor activities, just to keep her mind off her illness and help her stay fit.
Grey’s Anatomy fame Patrick Dempsey lost his mother Amanda Dempsey after her 17-year-long battle with ovarian cancer in 2014. The actor was left heartbroken but he came forward to share some stories about his mother. According to SurvivorNet, Dempsey recalled how his mother was a lover of the outdoors and nature and how in her final years, Dempsey tried his best to keep her active and healthy. "The important thing is to make those moments count. Don't waste the time because you don't know how much time you have. We were very fortunate that we had a lot longer with her than we expected, especially with an ovarian cancer diagnosis,” Dempsey told CureToday.
Although Amanda Dempsey’s diagnosis in 1997 came as a great shock to the family, the actor noted that it resulted in something good. It motivated him to know his mother really well before her death. Despite having a highly successful career in Hollywood, Dempsey decided to take a step back and spent 17 years caring for his mother. Patrick’s sister, Mary Dempsey, who had experience working in hospitals, proved to be a huge help to their mother. But above all that, Patrick ensured that his mother remains active and healthy. In a Facebook video released by SurvivorNet, Patrick revealed how he joined his mother in gardening, remodeling their house, and doing outdoor activities, just to keep Amanda’s mind off her illness and help her stay fit.
He dedicated his time to keeping her busy which was also essential in dealing with her survivor’s guilt, as per SurvivorNet. Amanda developed survivor’s guilt while thinking about the people who were doing the same treatments and passed away sooner than her. She ultimately lost her battle with cancer and passed away in 2014. However, her time in therapy and treatment did give her enough time to bond with her children and it allowed them to understand the kind of life she led.
Her life and legacy also inspired Partick to launch the Dempsey Center in 2008. Through this organization, Patrick wanted to help the community by offering free quality-of-life treatment for cancer patients and their families. His mother had also joined in counseling at the center when she was alive.
The actor revealed to ET Online while remembering his late mother and carrying on her legacy at the Dempsey Center, “There's so much work to be done and I just love the spirit of being here.”
References:
https://www.curetoday.com/view/-there-s-a-gift-in-the-conflict-of-cancer-says-patrick-dempsey
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Gareth Cattermole
