Refer
DonateEmma's Story
Emma and her sister have shared their touching story about why participating in this year’s Memory Walk for Compton Care is so important to them:
Our dear Dad, Keith, sadly passed away at Compton Care on 17th September 2022. He had oesophageal cancer and had been receiving treatment at New Cross Hospital. Initially, Dad responded well to the chemotherapy and as a strong, positive, determined man, he wasn’t going to let it beat him.
As time went on, things changed, and Dad began to struggle. He was referred to Compton Care and assigned to a wonderful nurse who visited Dad at home and was always a phone call away if we needed her. She was the support we desperately needed. Her kindness, advice, knowledge, and compassion were invaluable.
By this time, dad was receiving palliative care, his health was deteriorating, and the cancer was spreading, but still, he fought on. Unable to eat, growing weaker, and in severe pain, dad was admitted to the hospital where the palliative care team organised for him to be taken straight to Compton. For my sister and I, the relief was huge. We knew it was the right place for dad.
Compton Care came into our lives at exactly the right time. We’ve always said they ‘rescued’ us. From the moment we walked in, dad, my sister, and I were ‘scooped up’ in their arms and given the care we could only have dreamed of. Dad was treated with such love respect, kindness, and gentleness. It was beyond wonderful.
My sister and I never left dad’s side, and at a time when our lives were being turned upside down, we didn’t have to think about a thing other than spending those final, precious days with dad, knowing that everything was being done to ease him of his pain and make that time as calm and peaceful as possible.
Compton Care has continued to support us as a family these last twelve months, so on the anniversary of dad’s passing, we will be supporting them by taking part in Memory Walk 2023. Compton will forever have a place in our hearts, and we will be forever thankful for the love and care shown to us and to our dad.
To find out more about Memory Walk or other events you may like to get involved with, contact fundraising@comptoncare.org.uk