Heartfelt appeal to support hospice
A widower has made a heartfelt appeal for people to support a Staffordshire hospice after the care they gave his wife.
Adam Watkinson made the appeal for more people to donate to St Giles Hospice in Whittington, near Lichfield, after seeing how well they treated his wife Sue in her final days.
Sue Watkinson died of cervical cancer on March 29 at St Giles Hospice, having been admitted to the hospice on March 20 just after the national coronavirus lockdown began.
She had fallen ill on New Year’s Eve 2019 and found that the cancer she had previously thought she had beaten in 2018 had returned and spread, with Sue requiring palliative care.
Mr Watkinson said he had been unable to be there on the day Sue died after having to self-isolate, after it was suspected that his wife had the virus.
He said: “At that time, in the height of lockdown, and because I too had possibly been exposed to coronavirus, I had no choice but to self-isolate for seven days on government guidance.
"It was such an emotional moment for everyone, but the clinical director, Katie Burbridge, was so helpful and thoughtful.
"She knelt down next to Sue, held her hand and told her that she would keep her safe. It was a beautiful moment at such a terrible time.
"Katie’s reassurance was so important to us both.”
Mr Watkinson said he felt so grateful for the love and care that his wife received that he is sharing his story to support Katie’s Appeal, the fundraising campaign launched in April.
The appeal was named after Katie Burbridge, who thanked Mr Watkinson for his support.
She said: “We need to raise £850,000 every single month just to keep our services going.
"That’s why our message to the community is that we need your help today to ensure that we’re here for you tomorrow.”
Visit stgileshospice.com/katiesappeal for more.
