Friends dedication on our Tree of Life
Lucy Dawe may have never met the special person who sparked a desire in her to help the Hospice, but after hearing from her friend Pippa how we cared for them, she knew that she wanted to do something special to make a difference.
When Pippa’s childhood friend was diagnosed with cancer and told her friends that it was terminal, they were all devastated. She was a mum, wife, daughter, and fabulous friend. When the time came to accept the help of the Hospice ward, her friends could not have been made to feel more welcome.
“The time they all had together at the Hospice was incredibly special,” says Lucy. “The staff made it possible for them to all get together like they used to and enjoy as much time together as possible. Hearing this made me want to make a donation to the Hospice so that families and friends of other patients could experience this in the future.”
Calling the Hospice to see how she could do this, Lucy instantly knew how she could make a difference when she heard about the Tree of Life. Dedicating a leaf in Pippa’s friend’s memory was a gesture to show Pippa how much she cared and how the beautiful soul that her friend was had shone through in the way Pippa spoke of her. In amongst the sadness of losing her friend, Pippa was excited to be a bridesmaid at Lucy’s upcoming wedding.
“I presented a copy of the leaf to Pippa during my wedding speech,” says Lucy. “She was so grateful; it really was a very special moment.”
During the time that her friend spent at the Hospice, Pippa was there for her, and Lucy was there for Pippa. It is so important to have a support structure in place when you lose a loved one and Lucy was exactly that for Pippa.