My Story

On Sunday 12 May we will join Walk the Wight, a 26.5 mile charity walk organised by the Isle of Wight Mountbatten hospice.

We write this from the IOW hospice as we watch our dear, sweet dad Rod being cared for by the amazing team here. The carers, nurses and doctors on site have tended to both him and us with astounding kindness, providing cheer where there is none to be seen, giving us words when we can’t find them and helping keep Dad as calm and comfortable as is possible in his final days.

As a family we are completely lost without Dad’s guidance, but the team at Mountbatten are a map through this process.

Watching Dad deteriorate over the past year has been indescribably awful. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in May 2023 and watching him try to fight an unwinnable fight over the past 10 months has been the most heart-breaking, soul-crushing thing we’ve ever lived though. Nothing could ever have prepared us for it, but as this disease reached its cruel peak, meaning he could no longer live at home as he wished, Mountbatten were ready to take him in.

For the last three weeks Dad has been looked after round the clock by the hospice team, who have reassured us constantly that we are doing everything we can for him and who have treated him with a seemingly bottomless supply of compassion and grace. His needs are now too great for us to deal with alone, but the level of care he receives at the hospice means we are able to spend his final days as his family, not as his carers. This means the world to us.

The Mountbatten team (professionals, domestic staff, volunteers and counsellors) are always on hand with a happy face, a reassuring hug or a cup of tea. The terrible loss of our dad would be so, so much more difficult without their help. This is a building full of grief, but the staff show up ready to aid and support every day. They smile, they joke, they bring such light to the darkest of times. They genuinely care and they truly want to be here, even when we can’t quite find the strength.

So Cleo and I will be walking, marching, sweating and bickering our way across the island. Getting to the end is going to be a big reach for us (between spending time with Dad and navigating toddler/baby logistics we haven’t had time to train for this very long walk) (and I currently have no walking boots) (and we will be carrying Juno with us), but we are determined to raise money for this invaluable organisation in tribute to Dad and in honour of every single person who works/volunteers there.

Every pound you pledge helps to keep Mountbatten running, so that those facing death and bereavement on the island will always have somewhere to turn.  We couldn’t have gone through this without them and will be forever grateful.

Thanks for your support xxx