“St Giles is such a fantastic, amazing place. Even though we all felt the sadness of parting, we were in a place filled with love and happiness.”
Sarah Bentley’s mum, Olwyn ‘Ollie’ Atkins, spent her final week at St Giles before her death from cancer in 2017.
“We knew we were going to lose mum, but being at St Giles made it so much easier and more bearable. The staff really looked after us. Nothing was too much trouble.
“My dad was really struggling to accept that mum was dying but the staff spent so much time with him, making sure he was supported.
“Nothing prepared us for what St Giles was like. We didn’t really know what to expect but it felt like such a safe haven. Even though we all felt the sadness of parting, we were in a place filled with love and happiness.”
Sarah went on to say: “The staff were just amazing – the support that was there for us made such a difference, and even the little things mattered.
“My mum’s first great-grandson was just a month old but they let us take him in and lay him on the bed with my mum. It was just priceless.
“Mum had her own room and she had privacy and dignity and that was just so important. That’s all we wanted for mum and thanks to St Giles, we got it.”
“I’d urge everyone to support St Giles. You never know when you nor your family are going to need it.”
“Please support St Giles today, and help families like ours. Thank you.”
Sarah Bentley, daughter of the late Ollie Atkins