Billy & Emily's story

We’re dedicating a heart in memory of my dad, Billy Mayo, who died in summer 2023 after a two-year period of illness. Dad was the kind of person who lit up every room —always chatting, always making friends, always the one with a story to tell. Now that we face summer yet again without him, dedicating a heart feels like a way to honour the joy he brought and to keep celebrating him in a place that supported not only him, but Mum and me too. Placing a purple heart in the Hospice gardens feels like a way of saying “you’re still here with us”. It’s a moment to pause, remember, and honour the man we, and so many others, loved so dearly.

We experienced care from the various teams in ways we really needed throughout the stages of Dad’s illness. I was actually employed by the Hospice, working in the Comms team when Dad suddenly became ill in 2022, changing our world overnight and throwing us into a new reality. His diagnoses came quickly, stage 3 lung cancer - skin cancer, dementia and a pulmonary embolism.

The Community Nurses and Claire from the Carer Support team immediately stepped in and were with us at every stage of Dad’s journey. Penny from the Community Nursing team was especially supportive to Dad and Mum and her visits always cheered Dad up. Mum and I received counselling and carer support. Mum attended various workshops at the Spring Centre to help her understand dementia and prepare for Dad’s death.

It was during a counselling session that Claire realised Mum was really struggling to care for Dad and she not only managed to secure a home visit from his GP, but amazingly secured funding for 24-hour care at home, which is no easy task! Mum and I remain deeply grateful to Claire for going that extra mile for us. She enabled us to honour Dad’s wishes to remain at home throughout his illness.

Alongside the Hospice, other local charities such as Age UK and Carers in Herts played a huge part in supporting Dad and helping Mum and I navigate the last year of his life. It truly took a community, and we remain deeply grateful for every organisation that stood with us.

As I moved through grief, I came to understand that not everyone knows how to walk alongside you, and my then relationship ended in the months following Dad’s passing. It made the whole process of losing Dad even harder as we tried to adjust to a life without him. Managing the deep loss alone made everything feel heavier, and eventually I realised I needed to step back from my role at the Hospice to focus on my own healing and begin rebuilding myself. The Hospice continues to invite Mum and me to their remembrance events, making sure Dad was still remembered, even as the rest of the world moved on.

Music has been a huge part of my healing. I threw myself into singing and performing, something Dad always encouraged when I was younger, and it’s become a way I feel connected to him. That’s why this year’s Summer Hearts Event feels special. Returning to the Hospice gardens, tended so lovingly by the incredible team of volunteers, gives me space to breathe and remember. The flowers, the quiet corners, the care woven into every part of the grounds - it all feels like a place where love lingers.

Performing with my best friend and bandmate, Dave, makes the day even more meaningful. I’m part of two bands, but Manhattan Rose, the one Dave and I formed together, will be playing at the event. We met by chance at an open mic, and he arrived in my life at a moment when I desperately needed support. Sometimes I think Dad had a hand in it. Our duo will be playing a mix of originals and covers and being able to give something back through music, feels profoundly right.

The Summer Hearts Event is a chance to pause, to celebrate, and to feel close to the people we miss. For me, it’s a way of honouring Dad, acknowledging the journey Mum and I have walked together, and reconnecting with a Hospice family who continue to hold us with such warmth. In these gardens, I’m reminded that grief doesn’t have to be carried alone. Some places stay soft for you, even when life has been hard. And being able to return here to sing, to remember. To show Dave just how special this place is, and to give something back through music feels like coming home.