Jean's story

When Jean came to St Leonard’s Hospice in early 2025, she had been living with advanced gallbladder cancer and had only received her diagnosis a short time before.

Her family had already experienced the care of the Hospice years earlier, when Jean’s husband had been cared for here.

“Our dad had also been cared for by St Leonard’s 13 years previously and his care and the peace he found there cannot really be put into words. It was everything to all of us in such a difficult time.”

When Jean’s symptoms became too difficult to manage at home, she was admitted to the Hospice.

Her children, Emma and Simon, say the care she received made an immediate difference.

“Her symptoms were managed almost immediately, and she honestly lived such a full life in her final weeks. Lots of fun, visitors and surrounded by family, friends and pets.”

“The Hospice staff were exceptionally kind and warm and understanding. St Leonard’s means so much to us for the kind of end of life they enabled our parents to have. They took the fear away and wrapped their arms around us all twice.”

The Gift of a cuddle bed

Jean was able to have a cuddle bed in her room during her stay, something her family say made an enormous difference.

“Mum was so lucky to get a cuddle bed after a couple of days and for the duration of her stay.”

The larger bed made Jean more comfortable while managing the medical equipment around her.

“It instantly made her more comfortable and able to manage the various wires and equipment. This actually really made a difference to her quality of sleep.”

But most importantly, it allowed the closeness that meant so much to Jean and her family.

“Of course the biggest gift it brought was the ability for us to cuddle her, which we frequently did. She really needed those cuddles and so did we.

“She was a very loving and tactile person and it was so important she could cuddle her family, including her adored grandchildren Gabriel and Sam, as she had always done.”

Her partner, Graham, family, friends and even her beloved pets were able to gather close around her.

“The cuddle bed was such a significant factor in how happy Mum was because of the sheer love and physical closeness and grounding it made possible.”

Giving back in Jean’s memory

After Jean died, her family wanted to do something meaningful in her memory.

Jean herself had been deeply touched to learn that the cuddle bed she used had been funded by another family.

“Mum was really grateful to, and humbled by, the family who had fundraised so hard to purchase the bed that she benefited from.

“We decided to set up a fundraiser and invite her family and friends to donate in her memory, and we donated the money we would have spent on a large wake as well.”

The response was overwhelming.

“We are hugely grateful to her friends and family who donated so generously. Their kindness and love allowed us to give something back to St Leonard’s, a place so special to us, and in honour of such a wonderful and caring person that our Mum, Jean, was.”