Anno, Dean Hanson, was just 46 when he found himself needing care and support from LOROS over Christmas time.

He was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in November 2018 and just five weeks later, on 27th December, he died at LOROS.

“LOROS gave us so much, in such a short amount of time. The Hospice needs as much publicity as it can get,” said Nicole Hanson, who has two children with Dean, Harry 14 and Luke 28.

“I don’t think any amount of money we raise would ever give back the care and memories what LOROS gave to us, I can’t thank them enough.”

As like any other day, carpenter Dean had been working just 24 hours before his diagnoses. He had stomach pains but nothing else, so he and Nicole were shocked to be told he had cancer.

“You hear of other people having cancer but you never actually think it would be you being told those words,” said 46-year-old Nicole.

Just two days later and they had been given the devastating news that the cancer had spread to Dean’s lungs and liver.

“The hardest part was telling friends and family. How do you tell your 14-year-old son what dad has been diagnosed with?

“Once we were diagnose It was as if it had turned a switch and Dean’s health began spiralling downhill rapidly.”

By mid-December Dean’s health had taken a dramatic turn for the worse and he was given a bed at LOROS.

The day before Christmas Eve, as they tried to make the most of the time Dean had left, Nicole said they went on a trip out to Bradgate Park with the children and grandchildren.

“Dean’s main goal was to be home for Christmas and we did that, thanks to LOROS. The morning of Christmas Day, the nurses helped him get ready, the Hospice’s teams sorted out his pain management and we went home for a few hours.

“Our two grandchildren came over with the family and for those few hours, we were given a little bit of normality again.

“LOROS gave us those memories.”

Sadly Anno passed away on 27th December with myself and his family by his side xx