We are taking part in the South Downs Trek for St Barnabas House, walking a marathon distance across the South Downs on March 26th 2022! We promised mum that we would always support St Barnabas after the phemomenal care they gave her and support they have shown us so this is our first official event (and we would never not do what mum told us to)!

You never want someone you love to have to receive the care of a hospice, but my goodness you don't realise how much you need them until you need them. We want as many families as possible to be looked after by St Barnabas like we were. Without government funding hospices rely on donations and we know we can never repay St Barnabas for what they did for us, but we are going to give it a good go!

This is our mum, Michelle's, story:

In September 2020, amidst uncertainty across the world and a whole heap of **** going on, we didn't know what was just around the corner for us as a family. Following investigations due to swelling under her arm mum was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast cancer that had spread to lymph nodes under her arm and in her collar bone. What ensued was a very intense course of chemotherapy in which mum lost her beautiful hair and became very unwell some days. She carried on with strength and resilience that could only be described as astounding; walking every day and making the most of the better days. Two operations followed and then intensive radiotherapy. The results of all this treatment showed the tumour in her breast had gone and a lot of the cancer in her lymph nodes had been reduced. A course of chemotherapy tablets came next to try and fight the cancer that was left. Throughout all this she lived life to the full and continued to look after our family as only mum would do. 

After a wonderful summer together, with as much time spent on the beach in Hove, Shoreham and Worthing as possible, mum suffered from some seizures in early September 2021 and had to be admitted to hospital. Unfortunately, after some investigation, she was told (whilst on her own due to the nature of the world then) that the cancer had spread to her brain. Once again our world had been turned upside down. We were so relieved to hear that these tumours could be treated and she was booked in for October 11th. However, in the weeks leading up to this mum started to have many other symptoms which just didn't add up. So many scans and trips to hospital later, we unfortunately received the heartbreaking, devastating and earth shattering news that our mum's illness was terminal and she only had weeks to live. She was diagnosed with Leptomeningeal disease meaning the cancer had spread to the lining of her brain and spine. As with everything, mum didn't have the most straightforward journey and this disease caused many many side effects which meant that only a few days later mum had to go under the care of St Barnabas House Hospice.

Understandably reticent to leave her beloved home, knowing it was unlikely she would return, mum showed unbelievable courage and took the journey to the hospice. As soon as we arrived at the hospice so many of our worries and concerns were alleviated. They were simply incredible!

Mum spent her last 5 weeks at St Barnabas and on the morning of November 4th 2021 she peacefully passed away. We would never have got through those 5 weeks without St Barnabas. There are no words to express the gratitude we feel towards the staff for the way they looked after mum (and us). Absolutely everyone astounded us with their care; nurses, care assistants, reception, cleaners, cooks, social care, doctor, physios, complementary therapists we couldn't have asked for more for mum's last weeks. We don't know how they all do it, but alongside caring for our mum day and night they still allowed us to a be a big part of it and made us feel like we were helping her too. We will be forever grateful for this, the quality time they enabled us to have with her and the kindness they showed us all.