“The perfect place for Mum to finish her race”

TheGarratt family say they will never forget the “incredible compassion and love” shown to their mum in her final days on our Inpatient Unit.

Grandma-of-12 Susan Garratt died at the Hospice in August last year, just six weeks after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Susan’s son Neil Garratt said: “We had lost my dad in June and leading up to his funeral Mum complained of pains. The day after the funeral we had to take her to A&E and we were given the news that she had pancreatic cancer and was in the final stages of life.

“It was devastating. We were planning for her life without Dad and believed we would still have years to enjoy with her. She was a very hands on grandma who loved and lived for her grandchildren.”

To find out more about our Inpatient Unit and the services we provide at the Hospice please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/ourservices

Susan from Winsford enjoyed one last holiday with her four sons Neil, Mark, Paul and Jamie, and their families, before coming to St Luke’s for the final days of her life.

Neil said: “We knew we were facing our final moments with her and we spent every day with her, sleeping in her room next to her bed. For my brothers and I it was hugely helpful emotionally for us all to be together.

“Nobody will ever be able to take those precious days away. There was a feeling at the end that we had all been in the right place at the right time, and to have been able to do that in such comfort and in such a beautiful way was really special. It didn’t change the sadness, or the pain or the heartache but it was right to be there.

“There was a lovely relationship between Mum and the nurses which was just wonderful to see and there was never a lack of time or people, there was always somebody there for us. The last thing you think about is eating but I remember the nurses giving us bacon butties and providing us with sheets at night so that we could stay by her bed.

“We had lots of meetings with the doctors and they were extremely helpful and informative and just guided us and held our hands through a situation that you can never be prepared for. It was incredibly compassionate and we felt very well informed all the way through.

“We were the voices Mum heard at the end and she knew we were there and that really is special. It was the perfect place for Mum to finish her race.”