“I was very fortunate to meet Jane. Our first real time spent together was at her brother’s 21st birthday and it just seemed completely natural from the start. She was, by nature, an incredibly caring person and a great ally to have on your side. She was a volunteer at the Hospice for eight and a half years and found her work there very fulfilling.
Jane was diagnosed with MS in her late thirties and had to stop volunteering when her hands were no longer working. She had a slowly progressing form of MS and lived with it for the best part of forty years. Jane was self-sufficient by nature, but my role as her carer became more intense in the last fifteen years of her life. I retired relatively early and became immersed into those years, providing full support for Jane.
I’d gone briefly abroad in November 2024, when our daughter called with unexpected news. Jane had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. My son picked me up from Gatwick and took me to the hospital in Watford. They told us Jane only had days to live. Dr Sharon Chadwick, who had worked with Jane at the Hospice many years before, saw her and said, ‘We need to take you to the Hospice.’
It was an experience that no money can buy. The calm atmosphere, comfort, and warmth of the people at the Hospice are the guiding marks that set this place apart. Jane lived for just over three weeks at the Hospice, and during that period the whole family was with her every day. There was lots of talking. We decided it’d be nice if each of our grandchildren had time with Jane on their own. It was very meaningful to them that they could each have a one-to-one with her.
Jane was very happy at the Hospice. She had a lot of visitors, both friends and relatives who spent important quality time with her. On one of these visits, my nephew, who is a classical guitarist, came and played to her. It was joyous and she loved it. As things progressed, the team at the Hospice made sure that Jane was always comfortable. I was very inspired by how they cared for her – it was truly wonderful. The care is delivered in a very gentle, meaningful way.
The important memory is that Jane was very content. I stayed with her on the night she died, which is what we both wanted – so it was perfect in that sense.
My family will never forget what the Hospice has done for us and we’ll always continue to support it. Last year, we took part in Light Up A Life – and at this year’s event, we’ll be honouring Jane’s memory. She was a wonderful mother and a wonderful wife.
The Hospice meant everything to our family, literally. It was a place of refuge for us all. It’s a place of joy, care and understanding. And it is immeasurably valuable to people who are troubled by the illness of a loved one.”
A donation of £26 could fund a home visit by a specialist palliative care assistant (including travel costs).
Light up a Life
Whether this is your first Christmas without a loved one, or you have taken part in Light up a Life for many years, we are here for you.
We hope that you will be able to join us to celebrate the lives of your loved ones and honour their memory.
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