16 | Coming up
Why I’m supporting this year’s Light up a Life Appeal 2020
By Jennifer Allan My big sister, Karen, was born on 23 November 1964.
It was such a special and emotional day and the hospice were just out of this world to arrange it. Karen was unable to sit up in the bed but Parker nuzzled into her, comforting her. Karen died just two days after Parker visited and we can’t thank Gill, Kirsten and all the staff at the hospice enough for organising it. Nobody knows what is round the corner for them and it so important that the Ayrshire Hospice continues to
Karen and I will keep fundraising for them. It is my coping mechanism and a way to say thank you. I want to make sure that the hospice continues to be here to help other families who need their care and support in the future. That’s why we are supporting their Light up a Life appeal this year and I hope you’ll join us - and support this wonderful, vital local charity.
Karen was always mad about horses - spending every Saturday and Sunday at the local stables come rain or shine. Her first horse was called Rosie and then, in 1998, she bought her beloved horse, Parker, who just recently passed away. Karen moved to Winchester after graduating from Strathclyde University and it was there that she was first diagnosed with cancer. She had originally gone to see the doctor about her hay fever and mentioned that she had noticed a change in the shape of her breast. She was referred to the hospital the next day and diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. She was only 42. Mum and Dad went down to look after her when she went in for her treatment but the cancer soon spread to her bones and then her brain. It was then she came back home to Ayrshire so that mum could look after her. The hospice made such a difference to all our lives - everyone was so welcoming. It is not like a hospital at all
and you can make cups of tea, watch the television, or just wander round the gardens. We knew Karen was in safe hands when she was there and it meant that our mum could relax for a few hours. Unfortunately, our dad was also very ill at the same time and died of lung cancer 10 months before Karen passed away. Karen loved going to the hospice to get her hair and nails done. She had lost her hair a few times going through chemotherapy and it just never grew back the same way. The hairdresser at the hospice was brilliant at making her
be here to care for patients and their families. They don’t just deal with end of life care - they do so much more for people through complementary therapy, hairdressing, counselling and much more. The hospice staff make everything so much better. I can’t thank the hospice enough for all they did for
feel better in herself. When Karen’s health
deteriorated, she moved into the In-Patient Unit at the hospice. By then her horse, Parker, was 18 and Karen was desperate to see him one final time. So my sister’s friends, Gill and Kirsten, decided to arrange a special surprise visit for her. After checking with the staff, they brought Parker to the hospice to visit Karen.
Karen & Parker
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