Can you help the Hospice to provide care and create special memories this Christmas?

This is the story of Heather, who passed away at Princess Alice Hospice last year, but not before we were able to help her spend her last Christmas with her husband Andy and their two young boys.

Heather had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2007. She was just 43 years old, she underwent a whole succession of treatments at The Royal Marsden Hospital and in late 2008, she was given the all clear. In early 2009, Heather began to get headaches, the news was bad. The cancer had, unusually, spread to her brain. More surgery followed, but the outlook was not good.

Heather became an in-patient at Princess Alice Hospice in late 2009. With Christmas approaching, Andy and Heather spoke about the holiday, Andy told us what Heather had said 'I've either got to go now or wait till January. I don't want to ruin Christmas for the boys'. 

 Andy said 'Heather was determined to make sure the boys had a proper Christmas. The staff were fantastic, They helped me and the boys make Heather's room as Christmassy as possible.

The boys made special cards, the room was decorated and the staff served a proper Christmas lunch free of charge for the whole family in the room.

Heather passed away in January, surrounded by her loving family.

This Christmas we will be caring for our patients and doing everything we can to make their last Christmas a special memory for them and their families.

It costs just £21.63 for one precious hour of in-patient care over Christmas - that is the nursing staff, healthcare assistants and support staff to look after a patient and their family. Can you help with that precious hour?  

Perhaps you could help us provide care over Christmas morniing for £64.89 or even the whole of Christmas Day for £151.41.

We know times are hard, but with your help, we can continue to make Christmas special.

We would like to thank Andy for allowing us to share his story with other people to encourage their support.