Last year, legacies and gifts in wills helped us care for 69 people in our specialist In-Patient Unit, helping more people like Helen and her family:

 

“My name’s Helen, I’m 42 years old and first got diagnosed in 2017 with stage three breast cancer. I’ve battled multiple diagnoses of cancer over the years, with many treatments including a mastectomy, radiotherapy, and numerous rounds of chemotherapy.

I’ve known about the hospice for a long time because one of my best friends passed away here and everyone said how lovely it was. She described the hospice as a place for living, not for dying, and now I know what she means.

Ever since my first seizure in September last year, I’ve been slowly deteriorating. I just haven't been myself, I don't look like myself and I didn’t act like myself. I’ve been able to do less and less things, and it’s been heartbreaking for the kids to see. I’ve got a son, Lucas who is 17 and a daughter, Imogen who is 13. For young kids you don’t expect your mum to be in a hospice at their age, and I’m so proud of how open they are to talking about their feelings.

Lucas is really trying to keep his mind off everything, and is keeping himself busy by doing some fundraising for the hospice which I think is really lovely.

Lucas shared: “A few weeks ago, mam had a seizure that left her confused and unable to look after herself. It’s been hard to watch, but the amazing team at Teesside Hospice have been there for us, helping her get stable and providing care when we needed it most. Because of them, mam was able to spend a few days at home over Christmas, which meant so much to us as a family.

They’ve already done so much for her, and for us, and that’s why I’ve decided to run the Middlesbrough Half Marathon in March 2025 and the Great North Run in September 2025. I want to give back to the hospice that’s been there for my mum and our family, and doing these runs will keep me focused through what I know will be a difficult time.”

Helen said “My sister in law also decided to create a go fund me page to support me, and at first I felt too proud and wasn’t sure about it. I don’t have any savings or life insurance, and thought the page might be useful for paying for my funeral as I don’t want to leave a burden to my family. Within a week of the page being set up, she raised £7,100 and I was just in tears. I was blown away because I don’t even know half of the people who have donated and supported me. 

The funds she raised have helped go towards my funeral as well as helping me get an extra few Christmas presents for the kids, driving lessons for Lucas and I’ll put away the same for Imogen so she can do her driving lessons when she turns 17.”

Julia, Helen’s sister in law said “We can't stop the clock or wave a magic wand, but what we can help with is taking the financial worries away from Helen, in the time she has left. 

Despite Helens' struggles, she is always a ray of sunshine, pushing aside her setbacks and focusing on being a great mum to her two children. Seeing the hurt and pain that cancer has caused this family has been very hard, to say the least.

Not only are Helen's parents facing losing their own child before themselves, but they're also witnessing their child having to come to terms with parting with her own children and spending her last moments with them.”

Helen shared: “When Dr Deane came to see me and told me that it was time for me to come back into the hospice after Christmas, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

When the kids come and visit me you can visibly see that they are happy that I’m here. They clearly feel like ‘yes, mum is at the hospice, she’s safe and looked after’.

My room is filled with flowers, my own bedding, photos of me and the children, and Imogen is going to help me set up the room to make it feel like my own. It makes such a difference and really feels like home. It’s a place of peace here.

Some people think of a hospice as just somewhere you go to die, but that’s not how it is, and even if you do come here to die, it would be in a dignified and holistic way. 

If I had the money, I would definitely leave a gift in my will to the hospice, so that people like me could get the same care and dignity that I’ve received.”

Everyone deserves to be cared for at the end of life, but sadly one in three people won't get this care. You can help every Helen, every family and friend, everyone, get the end of life care and support they need. 

Help hospice care live on and leave a gift in your will, so we can help more people like Helen and her family.

Find out more about how you can leave a gift in your will to Teesside Hospice here.

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