In primary school I remember being the child with the youngest parents and I always thought that this meant they would be around forever. I clearly remember the first time I was told my Dad has cancer. I wasvin my teens. He was just 38 and it was such a shock. “Where is it?” was the first question I asked. The cancer was in his tongue and I was sure that it would be ok – “they can take it out right?” Dad underwent complex surgery in which most of his tongue was removed and muscle from his leg was then used to build a new tongue.  He had to learn towalk and talk again but he seemed to recover well. Sadly it didn’t last and thecancer spread into his lymph nodes. Dad became terminal and lost his life a few years later, 6 days after turning 41. I was the oldest of 4 children and Mum had a lot to cope with and Marie Curie stepped in to provide Dad with palliative care and support her. A hospice space was offered but Dad wanted to die at home so Marie Curie provided support for this to happen. The wonderful nurses came in to help Mum so she wasn’t doing it all alone. Dad died peaceful at home surrounded by his family, just has he wanted.

The family’s connection to Marie Curie didn’t stop there. Inspired by the wonderful care given to our Dad my sister Natalie decided that she would like to become a doctor. She was successful in gaining a place at Liverpool University and as part of her medical training she was required to spend some time at the Liverpool hospice. She initially found this difficult as it brought back strong memories of Dad – both sad and happy. She still remembers today the kindness and empathy of the staff at the hospice that supported her throughout the placement.

Tragically in 2014 cancer struck the family again. This time it was Mum. Suspicious lumps in her neck turned out to be small cell lung cancer – the most aggressive type. I broke down and cried, I wasn’t as naïve as I was with Dad. “Don’t cry” she said, “I will be ok.” She was always so positive. I was pregnant at the time and my baby was only 6 months old when Mum lost her fight. Mum wanted to stay at home just like Dad and again Marie Curie came and provided support for the family which helped us immensely. By this time my siblings and I were all young adults so were extremely busy with jobs, children and caring for Mum and we relied on Marie Curie a lot to get us through the days. “Smiling again Eunice?” the nurses used to say to her when they arrived. She was always smiling. Through Marie Curie providing this support to keep Mum at home it allowed my elderly grandparents to spend more time with her which would have been difficult for them had she gone into the hospice. Just like Dad, Mum passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones. After her death they told us how to get support and counselling and invited us to a mass in her memory.

I have struggled to fully cope with the loss of my parents but have recently started running which has helped my mental and physical health endlessly. Natalie and I have previously taken part in a race for life and raised money for cancer research and this inspired me to challenge myself even further and run a half marathon and raise funds for this wonderful charity who have provided my own, and still provide other families with so much support and kindness when they really do need it most.