Janet sadly passed in the summer, with family, friends and peers travelling from all over in September to celebrate her life. Close friend and fellow paediatrician, Dr Carol Ewing, has shared the eulogy she delivered at the celebration of Janet’s life with comments, memories and thoughts from Janet’s diary, her patients, families she supported and her paediatric and child health community.
Additional tributes are provided by Emma Rigby, Chief Executive of the Association of Young People’s Health and Emma Sparrow, Head of Children, Young People & Engagement at RCPCH. We also present some of Janet’s poetry, which is already being used in RCPCH training on transition from paediatric to adult health care. A book of Janet’s poetry, Airgaps are Allowed is submitted RCPCH archive and can be viewed on request.
Carol Ewing's eulogy
Janet asked me to speak about her professional career. I feel so very privileged; however, this is a collaboration from patients and colleagues. Janet gave me strict instructions to remember her presence, not mourn her absence and did not want a CV-like eulogy! She would be delighted to see so many blue outfits, earrings and hats among us today!
We grew up in Northern Ireland, loved the sea, went to the same school, Coleraine High School, albeit I was older. We didn’t know each other then although we will have met when she was very young, unknowingly, when her dad helped to get me through my A level maths with extra lessons. My mum and Janet’s mum were good friends, too. When I first introduced Janet to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital colleagues in this way, I always remember her sparkling laughing eyes expressing, "Oh dear here she goes again!".
From Janet’s diary, aged 16:
I don’t really know anything at the moment, least of all what I want to do with my life. Will it be medicine? Have I the determination to cope with competitive heavy years of intensive study and practice? Have I a mind and memory to cope with such a world as science and technology presents in the medical field? Am I strong enough to be a ‘people’ doctor, not merely a scientific – academic doctor?
Janet wrote as a final year medical student in 1986:
One of my peers, hopeful for a future career in hospital medicine, told me recently I was not suited for a similar career since I wanted to ‘care’ for patients – not enough time, too much of a rat race, caring is for GPs. I was speechless and saddened.
I am sure this was a trigger for Janet’s future career path.
Now the CV section – apologies to Janet! Janet qualified from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1986, trained in the North East, London and Birmingham, held clinical academic Consultant/Senior Lecturer posts at the University of Birmingham and London/Great Ormond Street Hospital and took up a Clinical Senior Lecturer post, Centre of Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester in 2015, providing clinical care at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH), Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). Janet retired in 2023 but, not surprisingly, retained an honorary senior lecturer post.
Apologies again to Janet for the CV references but I must share her outstanding achievements, through her research, education, clinical services and inclusive ‘young person first’ advocacy style for patients, families and professionals which has steered the strategic direction of health care for children and young people with musculoskeletal disease and for young people with chronic illness navigating transition from paediatric to adult services. Janet’s research was ground-breaking, her effective leadership style ‘disarming and unassuming’ and pragmatic about uncertainty.
A true champion, she was a national and international speaker, undergraduate/ postgraduate teacher/trainer, publisher/ reviewer of many papers and book chapters. She sat on policy/service development panels, eg for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Young People’s Health Special Interest Group, worked with the Association of Young People’s Health and at the same time, provided an excellent clinical service alongside her RMCH colleagues and there is so much more.
Throughout, she connected, listened to and communicated with her patients and families, trainees and peers, and continued to work with determination, drive and dignity in spite of her devastating illness.
I can hear Janet saying, "Enough of that, time to share stories". The following stories and tributes personify the Janet we know and love. I have received so many and I can’t share them all but be assured, I’ve collated them all for you to see later and for Janet’s family to have.
From Young Peoples’ Health Special Interest Group (YPSHIG)
Currently convened by Dr Natasha Sauven, with tributes from Dr Terry Segal and Dr Damien Wood, previous YPHSIG convenors.
From Dr Terry Segal
Janet was convenor of YPHSIG for many years and then continued to be academic lead, and continued to support and inspire us and put out a fantastic monthly academic roundup until she retired. She regularly taught on Euteach summer programme in Lausanne.
When she retired in 2023, we at YPHSIG gave her an award and commissioned a poem by Matt Abbott, poet, award winning lyricist, educator and activist about Janet, celebrating her special and numerous qualities, written after a collection from colleague’s words and videos of Janet. She loved the poem (after Seamus Heaney) and thought it summed her up very well. It was read at her eulogy.
Janet has transformed the face of transition and young people’s care in the UK and Europe. The poem is included in a book of poems written and compiled by Janet entitled Airgaps are Allowed.
I also use this poem written by Janet when teaching transition:
From Dr Damian Wood
This is Janet’s pearl of wisdom:
The young person is not the problem, the problem is the problem
Janet always gave a sense that there was more to life than medicine, and indeed health.
- Messages from YPSIG members in a card to Janet on hearing of her deterioration
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- Dear Janet, thank you for your wisdom annual never-ending optimism to ensure we can make adolescents a priority in healthcare. You have inspired me from my early career I will be forever grateful, with love Katie
- Dear Janet thank you for your spark energy and willingness to give and share your expertise in brackets even when over a screen in COVID times closed brackets you make understanding the research behind improving young people's health accessible and provide an overwhelming calm and clarity to complexity, love always Emma
- Dear Janet for meeting you as a wide eyed F1 interested in young people's health to now as a consultant in adolescent health you have been absolutely inspirational to me on a personal and professional level. Your passion vision and relentless pursuit of excellence have not only raised the bar but reshaped the very standards of our profession. You didn't just do the work you transformed it. The impact you've made will inspire generations to come. Sending love Neky
- We never did see any whales but plenty of puffins. Got very wet and had plenty of giggles. Thinking of you, love from Lee
- Dearest Janet, thank you for paving the way for how the agenda should be set for caring for our young people. And never forget to keep making noise and keep fighting with compassion.. You've taught so many and I will be forever grateful, sending lots of love Najette
- Dearest Janet you are a phenomenal and inspirational person thank you so much for all you have done for colleagues and patients to progress adolescent health care, with love and gratitude Terry
From Professor Kimme Hyrich, Lead for The Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, UOM
Janet was a leading academic in our Children and Young People’s Rheumatology Research Programme. Many research careers have been built through Janet’s leadership and legacy.
Her legacy will live on in our hearts and in our research, ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality research evidence for an often-neglected group of young people.
From Laura Lunt, research colleague
Janet was my line manager, my boss, the best! She taught me so many things, but most of all, she taught me that research should be kind and reminded me that research is about people and families.
I got caught in a Suffragette march and quickly became part of the gathering, was late for a meeting. Janet wasn't mad at all, but instead excited and said, "good for you". My bottom drawer at work is full of string, pens, pencils, stress balls, Jenga, little fabric envelopes of laminated cards and thousands of posts it notes and paper clips.
From Professor Ian Bruce, University of Manchester and Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland colleague of Janet since the 1990s
I will always remember her smile and her consideration for others which was her natural state. On many occasions walking up Oxford Road in the morning, you would see her coming out of Costa with two coffees. One for her and one for a homeless person she had spotted on the way in.
I also used to bump into her at the airport heading home to 'Norn Iron' as she lovingly called it. She never lost her accent and never forgot how to use the word 'grand' in the proper way!
From Dr Emily Willis, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Janet gave me a little tip for clinics. She would put a note in the top right hand corner of her clinic notes with nuggets of information to help her remember the child - name of pet, hobbies/interests - then she asked them about these things at the next visit, so they felt she knew them, not just their disease.
From Janine Hackett, Occupational Therapy Lecturer, former Birmingham Children’s Hospital colleague and friend
Going above and beyond was Janet’s characteristic approach, working late, sending patients cards when passing their driving tests and phoning patients of concern out of hours to ensure best possible outcomes. She was an excellent team player, great advocate and ally of Allied Health Professionals, admin staff and the wider multidisciplinary team.
Her curiosity, care for others and generosity of spirit was ever present; she was always one to remember birthdays, swap recipes, recommend music or share a glass of wine. Her kindness and humanity shone through in all life settings and her remarkable ability to connect and communicate with others meant she was loved by all.
From Emma Rigby, Chief Executive, Association for Young People's Health
Janet was a founding member of the Association for Young People's Health and was a great support for me when I started in my role. I worked on joint projects with her and young people. She was an incredibly important advocate for young people's health and in complex and sometimes stressful projects she kept young people's perspectives at the heart of her work. We will miss her greatly and we will continue to be inspired by her approach.
From Emma Sparrow, Head of Children, Young People & Engagement at RCPCH
Janet was a huge inspiration and support when I started at RCPCH, so generous with her time, guiding my learning on child and youth participation in paediatrics and child health and being so open to talk, share and at all times inspire. I remember my first meeting with her where I was instantly put at ease and given so much of Janet’s wisdom so freely, along with good lessons on how to challenge, advocate and demand there is better for children and young people.
She was fundamental in helping us to shape RCPCH &Us in those early days and will be missed hugely.
From patients and families when Janet retired
- Words cannot describe how thankful I am to you for everything you have done for me. You are so kind and caring; you go above and beyond for all your patients even when you yourself were ill you still made sure I was doing well. You are a brilliant doctor, an overall incredible lady. Hospitals can be scary but when you are my doctor, you keep me calm. It is always a pleasure to walk into the room and see your smiling face.
- We’re all so sad/devastated that you are leaving us – you have truly been an inspiration and role model to staff and patients. You’ve been a second mother, friend, listener and mentor and finally the best doctor anyone could ever ask for. We all love you to the moon and back - those that have had the chance to say and all those that haven’t - you will be missed more than you know. Lots of love from your favourite patient ever. Enjoy retirement - it’s fair to say you’ve earned it.
- Thank you so much for taking care of me since I was 12 years old. It’s definitely been a long confusing time trying to figure out my diagnosis; thank you for the smooth entry to adult services and to say bye, I hope you have the best retirement. I got you some chocolates. I hope you aren’t lactose-intolerant.
From Stephen McDonagh, brother
We are here today not to count the absence, but to hold the presence, the full, vivid, fierce and funny presence of my wee sister Janet.
In all journeys there are moments of joy, like wildflowers by the roadside, and there are times of sorrow, deep and dark as mountain ravines. But she walked them all with quiet courage. She gave her hands to the healing of others and her heart to her work, her strength to children in pain, helping them carry that pain in one hand and hope in the other, and though the path of healer was seldom easy, she never turned away from it...
...We do not speak only of grief. We speak of love, maddening, radiant, honest love like the kind that fights over the dishes and keeps showing up anyway.
We are not saying goodbye.
We are saying thank you. Thank you for the laughter, the stories, the love that filled our days. Thank you for every moment that shaped who we are. Though the road bends and you have gone beyond our sight, you do not walk beyond our love. That love will hold, unbroken, until the end of all things.
From Dr Jacqui Clinch, consultant and dear friend in Bristol (which speaks for all of us)
My dear Janet - Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You have enriched my life in more ways than I can possibly convey. A smile that always reaches your eyes, a transparent honesty, infinite kindness, humbling modesty, sometimes an impish mischievousness (with a glint!), always inclusive and shouting for those who don’t have a voice, clearly deeply loving of your family and friends.
And, no matter where you have travelled, always Northern Irish. Your poetry has pride of place on my shelf. No goodbyes - just fare you well, my gorgeous, gorgeous friend xxx
On behalf of all your colleagues, UK and worldwide, your legacy will live on, Janet - we will never forget you.
A concluding tribute from Carol Ewing
This is the last picture which I sent to you, Janet, on 18 August. And my dear friend, thank you for enriching us all with your spirit, knowledge, kindness, determination and love.
