13/03/2026
‘I had a lovely family life with my husband Dave. We would go on family holidays with my children, Zoe, Jade, Liam and Callum, to Dave’s favourite place, Weymouth. He loved to walk along Chesil Beach.
I met Dave through my mum. He was a security guard at a retail park. My mum was getting annoyed trying to move a bin, as it was in the way of where she parked her bicycle. Dave was watching her, laughing. I had my two sons with me (aged 11 and 9), and they were getting embarrassed, saying, “Nan, the security guard will tell you off!”. A few days later, I plucked up the courage to speak to Dave to apologise on behalf of my mum – and that was the start of our 12 years together.
Sadly, Dave was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in August 2023. In May 2024, he underwent a stem cell transplant but unfortunately, this failed. In October 2024, we were told the dreaded news that Dave only had months left to live.
Two weeks later, he was admitted to hospital after suffering a brain bleed which affected his balance. We were hoping for him to come home, as he wanted his final days to be in his own surroundings, but we soon realised this was not possible with the care he needed. This is where Sobell House became our lifeline.
Dave was transferred from the hospital to the hospice on 31st October, where he was put at ease straight away by the care he received from the staff. Nothing was too much trouble. Dave always liked to have a chat with the staff, and it was lovely that they had the time to stop and listen. Debbie, a night care worker, would come and sit in Dave’s room for a chat before she started work, which meant such a lot to him.
They even managed to move him to a room with a view of the garden, which he loved. Dave was a keen gardener at home and enjoyed pottering around, and he loved a visit to a garden centre where he couldn’t resist buying a new plant. Being able to watch the birds and admire the plants brought him comfort in those final weeks.
The staff at Sobell House were always asking if I was okay, and the doctors and nurses kept me up to date with Dave’s care. I don’t drive and I live 15 miles away, so I would get the bus or a taxi to visit him. Sobell even offered me transport, which made such a difference at such a difficult time.
Unfortunately, on 3rd December, Dave passed away. I would like to say a big thank you, not just for the care Dave received, but also for the support we received as a family. After Dave’s death, I didn’t need to use Sobell’s bereavement support services as I am very lucky to have a strong family network around me, but it was comforting to know it was there.
Looking back now, Sobell House represents a safe, calm and supportive hospice. I would want others who may feel frightened of hospice care to know that the staff go above and beyond to help patients and families. They let patients make their room feel like home with personal belongings, and they truly care.
Sobell House will always be the place that gave Dave comfort, dignity and kindness in his final weeks, and for that I will always be grateful. I still go on holiday to Weymouth with my two sons, as it’s a place where I feel close to Dave.
Dave’s Sobell story has been very kindly shared with us by his wife, Amanda. Thank you, Amanda. 💜
If you’d like to share your story, let us know by emailing mail@sobellhospice.org.
