Every Christmas we take a moment together to remember our loved ones who will never be forgotten. We celebrate those people who remain special to us through our Light Up A Life appeal.

This year Yvonne is remembering her mother-in-law, Violet. Yvonne has shared her precious memories with us and the difference that hospice care made to their family.

“We miss Violet all year round but Christmas is especially hard. Every December she would fill the kitchen with the smell of her homemade iced mince pies. Violet just loved Christmas and she loved being surrounded by her family — she loved the little ones. It didn’t matter whether you were 6 or 16, she just wanted you there.”

When Violet became very poorly, she was admitted to St Teresa’s Hospice Inpatient Unit. She received specialist care from the hospice’s dedicated team, who support families day and night.

“Violet couldn’t believe the care she received.” Yvonne recalls. “The staff were so kind and nothing was ever too much trouble.”

“One day, Violet told me she usually had a drop of brandy in her cup of tea last thing at night, but a hospital would never allow that. I told her that she wasn’t in a hospital anymore and I asked one of the team for her. They got her a brandy in her tea straight away and brought her one every night before bed.”

At St Teresa’s Hospice we believe in making every moment matter. We are dedicated to providing compassionate hospice care for those with life-limiting conditions. We do this through a wide range of services including our Inpatient Unit, Community Hospice, Wellbeing Hub, Lymphoedema Care, Complementary Therapies and Family Support & Bereavement Team, all provided free of charge to those who need them.

“Violet understood what hospices were for but never thought she would be in one. When she got here, she loved it. She loved the gardens and the place she was in.”

“It is difficult to put into words what the hospice does for people and to describe it doesn’t do it justice but when you experience it and you come and you see it, it is something special. Those little added extras make all the difference.”