Foyle Hospice launches annual 'Lights of Love Appeal'
Foyle Hospice has launched its annual 'Lights of Love Appeal' which will see hundreds of beautiful twinkling lights shining bright in memory of loved ones on the Hospice Christmas tree.
Every December, Foyle Hospice invites the community to come together with a local family to switch on the Christmas tree lights located on the Hospice grounds.
This year, Davy Walker, his wife Diane and their daughters Chloe and Lucy will be switching on the lights to remember their mother and grandmother Iris Walker who died at Foyle Hospice in July.
Iris received a cancer diagnosis in the months leading up to her only son’s wedding and did not disclose it to anyone. 10 years later the cancer returned and Iris, who lived with her son and his family, received care from Foyle Hospice at home and by the staff in the Inpatient Unit.
Davy explained: “Mum had been living with dementia for a number of years and was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer.
“Before our wedding, she had been unwell and was in the hospital with what we thought was a routine appendectomy. She told us that she had to have her appendix out but did not tell us that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
"In the next 10 years, we built an addition to the original house that I grew up in so that we could all be close.”
According to Davy, as her pain progressed, the Foyle Hospice nurses were called and Iris began receiving hospice care at home.
He continued: “They were able to keep her symptoms under control and we were so happy to have their support.”
Unfortunately, after a fall at home, Iris was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital where it was confirmed her cancer had spread considerably.
Davy said: “I can’t tell you how relieved we were when a bed became available in Foyle Hospice.
“It was clear that we were in the right place the first day we moved her in. Our nurse Gary was so attentive, he explained everything about the care that Mum would be receiving and then let us know about all of the support available to myself, Diane and the girls.
“The care was nothing short of brilliant, they had everything we needed and we felt as looked after as Mum was.”
Throughout her life, Iris loved singing in the church choir and was an avid gardener - her garden was her pride and joy.
Through the years she had joined a number of flower arranging clubs, given tours of her own garden and participated in the flower festivals benefitting the Foyle Hospice back when it was first opened. She was even filmed in her gardens by the BBC.
Davy continued: “We would not have wanted Mum to be anywhere but Foyle Hospice. They were a home away from home for us when we needed it the most. When Mum died, we knew that she had been free from pain and that she had the best care.
“The nurses also told us about the bereavement counselling and support that is available for everyone in the family and we know that they are there if we ever need it in the future.
“Our family will be forever grateful to Foyle Hospice; we know that without their support we would have struggled to provide the peaceful and dignified end that Mum (and everyone) deserves.”
If you wish to dedicate a light, you can do so by returning a Lights of Love tag that you have received in the post or sponsor a light on the Christmas Tree on the grounds.
Tree tags are available for you to write a personal message – this can be a message in honour or remembrance of a loved one, or it might be one of support for patients and staff who are working tirelessly to care for those in need.
You can post this tag back to Foyle Hospice along with your donation, where it will be placed on the hospice tree, as a token of love and remembrance.
The Foyle Hospice annual tree lighting ceremony will be held on December 19 and is open to the public.
Hospice care is more than end-of-life or palliative care, it offers families support, helping them through a devastating and challenging time. Community commitment to keeping Foyle Hospice running is the reason this family and so many families like the Walkers have had the support and care they need in unimaginable circumstances.
If you wish to donate to the Lights of Love appeal, there are several ways you can do this.
Foyle Hospice website: www.foylehospice.com/donate/
The Virtual Tree: www.visufund.com/foyle-hospice-lights-of-love
Foyle Hospice Facebook page: www.facebook.com/foyle.hospice/
Contact Fundraising: 02871 359 888.
A thoughtful gesture which many also consider is to donate a Light of Love as a gift this Christmas, you can do this by visiting the Foyle Hospice Shop here: www.foylehospice.com/product-category/lights-of-love/
Foyle Hospice is grateful for your continued support.