The inspiration for one of the stories in the new ‘This is Hospice Care’ advert that launched last week came from a real life story here at St Cuthbert’s Hospice. In the advert, a man can be seen attending a Hospice for physiotherapy and then leaving on his motorbike. That inspiration came from Mark Stanger.
Mark was 32 when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2019. He had experienced symptoms for up to six months prior, but unfortunately had been misdiagnosed during this time. It was only after paying privately to have a scan that doctors were able to find a large tumour and refer him for treatment. Mark was later told that treatment was not an option and there was nothing more that could be done. He was referred to St Cuthbert’s Hospice and spent the next few months receiving treatment, care and support from us until August 2019 when he sadly died.
Mark’s wife Emma has kindly shared their real life story in the hope of not only opening up Hospice care to others who may need it, but to also encourage people to think about leaving a gift in their will to the Hospice that gave them time, memories, care and comfort.
Today would have been Mark and Emma’s 6th Wedding Anniversary.
“If it wasn’t for the help and support of St Cuthbert’s Hospice we wouldn’t have been able to get married at all or to make so many precious memories before he died. Mark and I had known each other pretty much all of our lives. A year before we got together, he told me he would marry me one day. I couldn’t be more grateful to the Hospice for making that a reality. Without their support in getting Mark’s symptoms under control we simply couldn’t have done it. He didn’t think he would make it to the wedding day. You’d never know but on our Wedding Day Mark had a syringe driver in for pain management.”
“In fact, the day I got the call to say there was a space for Mark I was just about to head out to buy my wedding dress. Being referred to the Hospice was the best thing to happen. People think of a hospice as this big, black, scary and sad building that you go into and never come out of but for us that couldn’t be any further from the truth. The Hospice was such a bright and welcoming place.”
“As soon as we walked through the door we were all looked after so well. We were able to come and go. Mark would be able to come here and get his pain under control and then go out on his motorbike or quad later that day if he wanted to. He could be a Dad, he could go and pick our daughter up from nursery. People just don’t expect that for someone receiving Hospice care.”
“When he did stay overnight at the Hospice it was more like a hotel or having your own apartment. We were in and out of the Hospice from February to August. In the summer time at the Hospice he loved to sit out in the gardens, watch all the wildlife and catch a bit of a tan. It was such a comfort to know he could come here and he’d be so well looked after.”
“The amazing care was also there for our children, Layton who was 9 and Jessie who was just 4 at the time. Mark was so family orientated and everything he ever did was for the kids. Knowing that they were being looked after too was so important. Watching them take part in an Easter Egg hunt in the beautiful gardens is a precious memory.”
“Mark adored the nurses. In the winter he even went out and scraped the snow from their cars for them! He thought so highly of the medical expertise in the team too. They knew exactly what was right for him and helped us to make so many precious memories.”
We’re so very grateful to Emma for sharing her story with us and the real life inspiration behind the motorcycle scene in the advert.
Without doubt the care that Mark, Emma and their children experienced at St Cuthbert’s Hospice was directly impacted by the kind gifts that others have left in their Wills. Gifts in Wills allow us to go the extra mile. They help us to give the hug in the corridor, the big bubble bath with Dad and the fresh air on a face one last time.
The hope behind the “This is Hospice Care” campaign is to unite hospices and shine a light on the essential role we play and the difference gifts in Wills make for protecting our future.
Please consider leaving a gift in your Will to St Cuthbert’s Hospice.
Together, we can make sure your legacy lives on for future generations.
Learn how you can make a lasting difference
Leaving a gift in your Will – whether a percentage of an estate, a set amount, or an asset such as property – ensures that we can be here for those who need us, today and for generations to come.
Share:
