Join Sam in supporting the St Ann’s Hospice Forget-me-not appeal

St Ann’s Forget Me Not services return this Saturday, June 14 and offer an opportunity for reflection and celebration of the lives of loved ones. 

My name is Sam, and I have been supporting St Ann’s Hospice since 2023, when my mum, Denise died here following a diagnosis of terminal cancer. 

My mum knew she didn’t want to die at home, she knew she wanted to go to a hospice, and in the end and she chose St Ann’s, a charity she had placed in her Will. 

Mum didn’t last long at St Ann’s, only around six days. Her symptoms got so bad that she had to have a nurse with her around the clock to help manage them. 

The thing that stood out to me at that time was the nurses wanted to know all about her, they wanted to see photos of her. It just made such a difference that they really cared about her. 

When I was with mum at her bedside, I promised her that I would do whatever I could to raise money for St Ann’s to make sure that other people got the same care that we received. 

Even after she passed, St Ann’s helped me. They provided me with bereavement support and further counselling. 

I ran into a doctor from the Heald Green hospice who cared for her earlier this year. It’s been two years and he remembered her name, and which room she was in. I think that just shows the kind of place St Ann’s is. 

Having that support at the end of your life is so necessary. It takes stress off your shoulders knowing there are medical professionals there when you feel panicked.  

Knowing someone is always there, day and night to help you, having the space to be with mum when she died was everything.  

Please join me in supporting this year’s St Ann’s Forget Me Not appeal, every donation makes such a difference in the lives of families such as mine and it helps ensure patients will continue to receive the very best care at St Ann’s for years to come. 

To learn more about the appeal or to dedicate a flower in memory of a loved one in our online Memory Meadow, click here.