Last Christmas hundreds of families chose to remember their loved ones by dedicating a light on a very special Christmas tree organised by Southern Area Hospice.
The very special evening is dedicated to honouring, celebrating and remembering those no longer with us.
The Hospice invite you to join them as they gather by candlelight to enjoy festive songs, readings and warming refreshments as they illuminate their very special tree.
Many families will dedicate their own lights in memory of their loved ones this Christmas.
The Robinson family is one of those families and they have kindly agreed to share their Hospice story with you.
Telling her story, Charlotte said: “My mum, Julie, was born in 1971 into a family of four in Ahorey.
“She came from a farming background where family was very important, and our needs always came first.
“The importance of family and being kind is something that mum instilled in us as well.
“Mum loved life, she loved her friends, and her job as a French and Spanish teacher in Banbridge Academy. She loved being a mum and it showed in everything she did for us; she was a truly wonderful mother.
“My mum and dad, Trevor, married young and had four children – myself Charlotte, Matthew, Annie and Ellie. We were just a normal family and a very happy one, we were close in age and loved spending time together.
The Robinson family
“All of that changed in 2013 when mum, aged 42, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“My youngest sister Ellie was only 6 and I was just 15, but I remember how strong mum was. She accepted all the treatments provided, and both mum and dad kept family life going as usual.
“We would often visit Dunfanaghy to go to the beach, for the sea air and some time together and it always did mum good.
“Our family life returned to almost normal after that, though mum still needed to take medication to prevent a recurrence. Sadly, in 2019, we received the news no one wants – mum’s cancer had returned. She retired from teaching and, once again, took what treatment was offered to her.
“Soon after receiving this news, I went to Spain on my placement year – I followed in my mum’s footsteps and was training to be a French and Spanish teacher. She came out to stay with me a few times and I will be forever grateful to have shared these very precious times with her.
“Then Covid and the lockdowns came, and I returned home to be with my family. It might sound strange, but this was a special time for us. We were all back at home together, mum was still having treatment, but we were together, and that was all she wanted.
“Mum gradually grew weaker and last September, the doctors spoke to Mum and Dad, explaining that the treatment wasn’t working anymore. Hospice care was mentioned for the first time, but we weren’t ready to accept it at that point.
“Mum was hospitalised in late November and, after a few weeks, wanted to go home, even for one night, which was carefully arranged. We took her home and that night will be a lasting memory for all of us – we sat around her bed and drank hot chocolate and chatted all night.
“Unfortunately, mum was so ill and we knew that mum would now be more comfortable in Hospice care. Admission was seamlessly arranged. Dad accompanied her in the ambulance, and I drove behind with the rest of our family.
“None of us knew what to expect.
“My lasting impression of the Hospice is of the care and an abundance of kindness. Just hours after arriving, mum was so much more settled, so calm, and because of that, so were we.
“There was a lady called Sheila at reception, and from the first time we met, she remembered our names, mum’s name and she spoke to us every time we passed her. She had bowls of sweets and would encourage us all to take some.
“It’s a small thing, but to me, that’s what Hospice care is – all the small things that make such a difference when your heart is breaking.
“We took turns sitting with mum so she was never alone, though we were never alone either. A nurse was always unobtrusively checking that she was ok, that we were ok, the care we received was first class.
“Matthew, the chaplain, was a great source of comfort and support to dad and helped him explain to my younger siblings what was happening. It was a wonderful team of people who would do anything to help you.
“Thursday December 14 last year is a day we will never forget. We knew mum did not have long, so her sisters and our minister came to be with us.
“Out in the Hospice car park, hundreds of people were gathering for the annual Light Up A Life ceremony.
“A nurse came into Mum’s room and explained about the ceremony and offered to close the blinds and the windows during the ceremony, but we said no. Instead, we opened them so mum might hear the beautiful singing and music, with the lights from the tree shining up into her room. She loved Christmas so it was all so poignant to us.
“Mum passed away shortly after the ceremony ended, with all of us by her side. After she passed, the staff were fantastic with us, so very kind and caring, we could feel the empathy from every one of them.
“We left the Hospice that night for the last time, the beautiful tree shining in the now-silent car park.
“We returned to the Hospice a few days later to see the staff, to thank them, and to give Sheila some sweets for her bowls. It felt important to us.
“There were some of the photos from the evening on a noticeboard – in one photo we could see mum’s bedroom window and the light from the Christmas tree illuminating it – forever capturing a very sad but special time for our family.
“This year, she will have her own light on that beautiful tree, and we will gather around it to remember her.
“I am so proud to share our story with you, to tell you about my wonderful mother and of the incredible work of our local Hospice. We will never forget them or their kindness, for they are now forever part of our memories of our wonderful Mum.”
On behalf of Charlotte, Trevor, Matthew, Annie and Ellie Robinson.
Southern Area Hospice warmly invite you to dedicate your own Light and join them for the ‘Light Up A Life’ ceremony on Thursday December 12, at 7.30pm in St Johns House, Newry.
To find out more information on light up a life ceremony, click here.
