My wonderful, beautiful wife and mother to two gorgeous children, was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma cancer 5 months ago and despite a determined and courageous battle with the disease, she finally passed away in the early hours on the morning of the 12th June. The last 2 weeks of her life were one where the cancer was becoming very aggressive and pain control was difficult. She was admitted to the MSH on Thursday and the care immediately provided was excellent, with a nursing staff that knew exactly what they were doing. The hospice made what was an extreme difficult time as pleasant as possible for Claire. When she initially suffered a number of seizures, they managed the palliative care to ensure that she did not suffer any further pain and towards the end where so gentile to ensure her that she was safe in their hands. MSH ensured that family and friends, within comfortable surrounding, had the time and team support to visit Claire - providing both family and friends bereavement counselling.

MSH goal is to improve care, pain control and support patients with life-limiting illnesses. This need for specialist palliative care is provided under the NHS whereby the running costs of the hospice is wholly funded by charitable donations by the local community - a vital service to those facing life-limiting illnesses for which we are eternally grateful to have received for Claire.

In lieu of flowers, request is that you donate to this fantastic cause that other families that need this specialist care may benefit to honour Claire.