Memory Meadow Story

Our Memory Meadow is being supported by Liz Sharples, who has experienced care and support from Hospice and shares her story below.

What a wonderful tribute and honour it has been for our family to be asked to represent the Memory Meadow campaign in memory of our beloved Chris.

Chris was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in May 2021. At that time he was very active with no outward signs that he was so unwell and he was living life to the full. The whole family was in shock at the diagnosis and its associated prognosis of just 6 months.

Chris received the treatment which enabled him to live with non-curable cancer for over 29 months from his oncology team based out of the Wellington Platinum Centre in London. We learnt very early on that everybody’s cancer journey is different and nobody knows how they will respond to treatments or what new treatments will be made available whilst you’re on that journey.

Eventually Chris’ side effects from the treatment became greater than its benefits and it was at this point we contacted Hospice who responded immediately. Unsure of how Hospice could help us we were visited by Gilly who was responsible for coordinating Hospice Services in the North of the Island. Gilly wanted to meet Chris in person to assess his immediate needs and  explain how Hospice could help us, including offering counselling support for the whole family which was greatly appreciated. Whilst we had of course heard of the fantastic work Hospice carries out, we hadn’t personally experienced it and it wasn’t until we met with Gilly that we understood the full extent of the assistance Hospice provides to the Isle of Man community.

Gilly visited and checked in with us on a regular basis and brought in other team members from Hospice as Chris’ disease progressed. It was during one of Gilly’s visits that we agreed that with Hospice at Home’s help Chris could be looked after at our home for over 30 years as he wished. Initially we  were apprehensive as we had no medical experience or knowledge of what this would involve however nothing was too much trouble for this wonderful team who treated Chris with kindness and dignity as well as having time to spend with myself and our sons if we needed any reassurance. 

Hospice at Home gave our family the  confidence to look after Chris at home. We knew that there would always be someone available to speak with us and answer our questions – no matter how difficult the questions were. The team had 2 scheduled visits a day in the latter stages of Chris’ illness but were available 24 hours a day to help us should anything worry us in between their visits. They were true to their word, even when called out at 2 am in the morning in very stormy weather to our home. 

Chris died peacefully at home in the early hours of the morning and once again the Hospice at Home team were there for us to carry out everything that was necessary and to make sure that we were coping. 

We feel so privileged to have had access to such wonderful support from Hospice throughout Chris’ last months which allowed us to function as a family in our own home right up until his passing. We will never forget the kindness and dignity afforded to Chris during this time by the team at Hospice, his needs counted right up until his last breath.

Following Chris’ death our wonderful friends gave me an opportunity to show my gratitude to Hospice at Home by arranging an uplifting and enjoyable fund raising event last Summer in memory of Chris. As well as having a fabulous evening we raised an amazing £16,615 thanks to the generosity of local companies, friends and family.

We will always be grateful to Hospice and hope to continue fund raising for such an important and vital facility on our Island.