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A little bit about Dad’s fight; 

Dad starting fighting throat cancer just over 4 years ago and took treatment head on with no complaints, always with Mum at his side. He had 7 weeks of daily radiation and weekly sessions of chemotherapy. That is a lot of hospital parking tickets! 

It was a really tough time for Dad and us as a family as you can imagine. Dad was still smiling though.  As part of his treatment Dad chose to take part in a medical trial to help prevent this cancer for OUR futures!  We are so proud of him and YES, he beat cancer head on! He got the all clear with a long road ahead of recovery.  

As part of his on going medical trial, Dad would receive regular full body scans. Unfortunately at one scan they found a shadow on his lung. The cancer was back. 

More weeks of treatment and operations followed and again, Dad took this bravely head on with Mum always at his side. We can not even begin to thank our amazing NHS and the team that looked after him who some are now thought of like part of the family.  Time went on and Dad struggled, still with side effects of his throat cancer as well.  He continued to fight and wouldn’t give up for his family and friends. Still didn’t complain, unless it was about mums cooking! (Dad, forever the wind up!). 

Dad started to struggle and there were lots more visits to Southampton General. We missed him but every FaceTime call, there he was again smiling! Especially if it was one of his grandkids. This went on for some time with Dad in and out of hospital. He did say he enjoyed their curry but I know where he would of rather been. 

Dad got tired, his body got tired and enough was enough. Our hearts were broken. That’s when it was decided by Mum and Dad that Oakhaven would step in to help. The last week that Dad was with us, he moved into Oakhaven Hospice for continued palliative care. So what did we all do as a family, well we pretty much moved in to! Oakhaven welcomed us all with open arms. 

The nurses, doctors and volunteers were the most amazing people I think we all have ever met. Every single person made an impact on us all. Plus they loved dad! They all commented that everything dad said ended with ‘Thanks, my love’ ‘Thank you my darling’. Still no complains from Dad. 

Oakhaven let us be a family again, let mum be a wife again. Fed us and always kept us topped up with tea and coffee. The most beautiful setting and the still and quiet we all needed. 

Oakhaven hugely rely on donations so we would absolutely love to give something little back in memory of our Dad. 

John Evans. Our absolute everything xxx