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Community Corner

Walking for Dave

It was only supposed to be a small coffee and cakes gathering. But before they knew it, the Nation family were throwing a garden party along with tombola, bring ‘n’ buy and flower arrangement sales at their Streetly home.

And it was a special occasion for the family because the event on a Bank Holiday Monday May 27 marked the birthday of their beloved husband and dad Dave who had died in June of last year.

The event is only one of the ways the family have supported John Taylor Hospice since staff there cared for Dave. The family gave donations in lieu of flowers at Dave’s funeral, they held the garden party, they took part in last year’s Birthday Walk and they already have this year’s Birthday Walk on Sunday October 6 firmly in their diaries.

This has all been prompted by them discovering how special a place John Taylor Hospice can be for families when they need support.

“Dave was a computer programmer who worked from home,” says Sue, a 62-year-old supply teacher who met her husband when she was a student. “He was very chatty – he would get a phone call in the office and be on the phone for two hours! He had a lot of friends and was a very caring person.”

In October 2011 Dave was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain tumour, and began treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It was while undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy that he was first put in touch with John Taylor Hospice.

“It was occupational therapist Sam Howell who came out first because dad needed all kinds of equipment,” says daughter Lisa, a 33-year-old human resources manager. “He was over six foot tall and he quickly lost a lot of his muscle power so he was finding a lot of things really difficult.”

Over the following months the family received support from a number of Hospice specialists and in spring of last year Dave came to stay at the Hospice.

“We had a week of respite booked already,” recalls Sue. “Then the doctor at the QE said they were going to stop his treatment because there wasn’t anything more they could do for him. So he came to John Taylor for what should have been his respite but we quickly realised that we couldn’t care for him at home so he stayed in the Hospice.”

Dave spent his last two weeks at John Taylor where he was constantly visited by family and friends.

“It really was a home from home for Dave,” says Sue. “They did everything for him – and for us. One of us stayed every night and we were all made so comfortable. It sounds strange to say it but the Hospice was so welcoming and friendly that we could even have a laugh there.”

And it made the situation easier for all of the family.


“None of us had realised what hospices were actually like until Dad was there,” says Lisa. “But it was such a nice place to go to. And they let us do things together – like we had a Jubilee Party for the Queen’s Jubilee and we hung up bunting and put pictures up in the room.

“And they took care of the whole family, not just Dad. If Mum was there we weren’t worried for her because we knew that if she needed a meal someone would feed her or if she was upset someone would make her a cup of tea.”

Emma, a 36-year-old teacher, sums up their feelings: “John Taylor Hospice made what could have been a complete nightmare bearable,” she says. “When Dad died we were there round the bed and it was peaceful. And that meant everything to us.”

Now the family are keen to support the Hospice.

“It is paying it forward,” says Emma. “When we needed the Hospice it was there for us and now we know what that means we are making sure that it will be there for the next people who need it.”

And they have found that holding events and taking part in them is good fun.

“We really enjoyed the Birthday Walk last year,” says Lisa. “It was really well organised and there were so many lovely people there. I think we were a bit surprised at how many people were actually taking part. We will definitely do it again this year.”

The family are also considering holding another event themselves in the future.

“We wanted to give something back to John Taylor Hospice and remember Dave’s birthday so we decided to have a coffee and cakes but then it just kept growing and growing,” says Sue, who also received bereavement counselling from the Hospice team. “But it was a lovely day and it was a good way of marking his birthday. I would like to do something next year – but maybe on a smaller scale!”

John Taylor Hospice community investment ambassador Liz Wood says: “It’s great to know that the care provided by our staff and volunteers made such a difference to Dave and his family. And we are grateful that it has inspired Sue, Lisa and Emma to want to invest in us in so many ways.

“We’re looking forward to them joining the fun at our Birthday Walk.”

Places are still available for the Birthday Walk, which is 3.5 miles and begins at the Ramada Hotel, Penns Lane, Sutton Coldfield, from 9.30am on Sunday October 6. For more information or to register contact the Commmunity Investment Crew on 0121 465 2000 or join online at www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk


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