Sobell House Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to adults living in Oxfordshire with a life-limiting illness, and to support to their family and friends.
At any one time, the team cares for about 650 people at home, in hospital, or within the hospice itself.
All care is provided free of charge, but it costs around £12 million to fund all of Sobell House’s services, innovative care projects, and essential building updates every year, and the demand on their services continues to rise. The charity raises around £4 million through events, fundraising and local businesses, but around a quarter of their income is solely funded through gifts in Wills.
Sarah’s world was turned upside down when her husband Dave was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer just ten days after retiring in December 2022. Here, she shares how her Uncle’s legacy has ensured other local families can receive the support they need from the Sobell House team when faced with life-shattering news.
“My husband only lived for ten weeks following his diagnosis as the cancer had already spread to his liver. Dave didn’t want to die, but following six failed attempts to insert stents, we were told there was nothing more that could be done, and were desperate for him to be out of pain. The relief we felt when Dave was admitted to Sobell House was indescribable; Dave immediately felt safe and cared for – he could ask questions, had medication for anxiety and pain, and he had his family, including our two children, by his side. It also made the world of difference that he could order any food he fancied. He had ice cream for breakfast, honey yoghurt for lunch, and dessert of the day for dinner which he loved!
I was there holding his hand when he died on 5 March 2023. Sobell House helped him to die as he lived, with great dignity and surrounded by love. I will be forever grateful for that. Afterwards, there’s a huge amount of ‘death admin’ and, when coupled with grief, it feels very difficult to manage. I was so thankful that Dave had a Will which we updated before he died so I knew exactly what his final wishes were and I felt looked after even after he was gone.
About a year later, we saw that Sobell House was asking for funds to renovate their Family Room. I’d spent many hours there, talking to other relatives while making endless cups of tea, and that mutual support helped me so much. My Uncle, Lowell, was very close to Dave, and as he was getting older he wanted to make some living donations and support his chosen charities. He made an incredibly generous donation to the Family Room Appeal, and found great joy in being alive to hear what a difference his donation would make.
Little did we know that Lowell himself would need Sobell House’s support very soon. Shortly after moving to a care home, we discovered that he too had cancer. Sobell’s community nurses were absolutely incredible, taking the time to explain what was going on and providing a ‘just in case’ medical kit for end of life care. Lowell’s pain and anxiety increased, and this kit enabled him to spend his final days of life relaxed and comfortable. I held his hand on 18 June 2024 as he fell asleep for the last time and, as with Dave, the final words he heard were ‘I love you’.
As the executor of Lowell’s estate, it’s meant a great deal to me to continue his legacy and leave Sobell House a further donation in his Will. He would be absolutely thrilled to know that he’s helped people who are in similar situations to him and Dave at the end of life.
I wanted to share my story to remind people of the importance of making a Will – if you haven’t, please do it for your loved ones – and to encourage you to leave a gift of any size to Sobell House. If we all contribute what we can, we will be honouring those who, by donating, made our Sobell House experience possible, and, crucially, helping to future-proof our local hospice for the people who will need it in times to come.”
Can you help protect the future of hospice care in Oxfordshire with a gift in your Will?
Come along to Sobell House Gifts in Wills event this March to have your questions answered, and hear about the difference you could make to their work. RSVP at https://sobellhouse.org/fundraise/upcoming-events/.
Alternatively, get in touch with Deborah, their Legacy Fundraiser, to receive support and a Gifts in Wills information pack, which includes details on how to access a free Will writing service.
T: 01865 857007
E: [email protected]
Latest posts
Share
Comments