Dedicate a light this Christmas - and help us continue to care for families like Stuart's.
Stuart Hall was a devoted husband to Sarah, and proud dad to Ethan (14) and Jessica (8), Stuart was known for his big smile, his mischievous sense of humour, his love of cars, and his love for family life.Stuart was admitted to our In-Patient Unit and cared for by our amazing team for nine days before he passed away in October 2022.
Stuart’s wife, Sarah, shared their family’s story with us, and told us how Hospice provided support during this incredibly challenging time.
“Stuart was a kind, caring man. He was a friend to everybody that he met. And he had such a big smile that would light up the room, he would do anything for anyone. He was a real practical joker, always bringing a smile to everyone’s face,” Sarah recalls.
“We have two children, Ethan who is 14, and Jessica who is 8. He enjoyed going to car shows and working on his cars, whether he was in work or outside of work.
And as a family, we just loved doing anything with the children, going on holidays, going on forest walks, day trips to the farm or the zoo. We just enjoyed doing things as a family. Stuart was really the best dad in the world, I know everyone thinks that, but he was such a good dad. He was the fun parent – always laughing and joking and playing with the children.”Stuart and Sarah had just bought their first home together in Carrickfergus when life changed dramatically.
In November 2016, Stuart experienced what doctors called a “focal seizure”, pins and needles in one arm, a strange taste and smell, and trouble speaking.
In January, he was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma brain tumour, the most aggressive form.
“Two weeks after diagnosis, he went for an awake craniotomy and then a second one a week later."
"That was followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Stuart had three-monthly scans, which stayed clear until April 2021, when the tumour returned and he had another surgery. In April 2022, almost exactly a year later, another tumour appeared - this time inoperable.”But Stuart was such a strong spirit. He was strong and determined and he fought to the very end.” Hospice care entered their lives just a month before Stuart passed away.
“We were quite against hospice care at first. We didn’t know much about it, to us he was being taken out of home and we wanted to keep him at home as long as possible. But almost the minute we stepped through the doors here at Hospice, it was like a massive weight lifted off our shoulders. Stuart looked so comfortable. He looked more at peace here. They were able to control his pain better than they ever could have at home.”
“Everybody cared for Stuart so well. But it wasn’t just Stuart. It was our whole family they cared for. "
"I moved in with him, and the doctors, nurses, domestic staff, chefs, they all looked after us so well.”
Small acts of kindness left a lasting impression.
“When the children were carving pumpkins, some of the staff stayed behind after their shift had ended so Jessica could join in after school. They brought games, toys, and Xboxes from the Children’s Hospice for them to use, they brought them in sweets so they could go trick or treating.
Sarah remembers how Hospice supported the whole family during Stuart’s nine days at Hospice.
“The staff treated our children like they were VIPs. They provided pumpkins for them to carve because it was Halloween.
“The ukulele band was a really special moment – they came round the rooms in the evening, and our family got to request songs for them to play.”
Stuart passed away in our In- Patient Unit on 26th October 2022.
For Sarah, Hospice gave something she could never have managed
alone.
“I have a nursing background, so I’d like to think I would have coped at home. But in those last few weeks it was getting harder – the pain was harder to control. Hospice allowed me to be his wife, and a mum to my children.
“It brought us happiness and lasting memories in those last nine days.
The saddest of days were made bearable only by the kindness and compassion shown by the staff of the Hospice who we will be forever grateful and indebted to.”
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