Michael and Lynn Edwards

When Michael lost his wife, Lynn, after 45 years of marriage, the hospice gave them both something priceless. 

From the start of their marriage in 1972, Michael and Lynn decided to make the most of life. And after the heartbreak of losing two pregnancies, they promised to face every challenge together. Whether building successful careers, setting up Lynn’s consultancy business or travelling, they did everything as a team.  

“Lynn did very well in her career, and I’m very proud of her. But she wasn’t just about ambition. She was a very giving person and a great listener. Lynn was in her element helping children with their reading at our local primary school. And she had a way of bringing people together – even in the hospice. She left me with so many lovely memories.” 

When Lynn was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, Michael and Lynn tackled it the only way they knew how – together.  

“Lynn’s illness came completely out of the blue. After noticing something wasn’t right, her GP ran some tests. To this day, I remember the consultant’s exact words: ‘You’re starting a very long journey together.’”

Surgery successfully removed the tumour, and Michael and Lynn were over the moon. But their relief was short-lived when follow-up tests revealed the cancer had spread to Lynn’s liver. It was the start of a two-year battle – further surgery, chemotherapy, scans and blood tests.  

“I remember Lynn saying to me, ‘Although I’m dying, we can just focus on the wonderful life we’ve had together…’ and the hospice gave us that chance.” 

“The worst bit was waiting for results. We were always hoping for the jackpot answer that the cancer was in remission. But it never happened. It didn’t progress for a while, but we knew it was on the march and eventually was going to do its worst.” 

At the end of 2017, knowing the cancer wasn’t going away, Michael and Lynn decided to be proactive about the future. Lynn pushed to get involved with the hospice, wanting to know what support was available, and a community nurse made the referral to Eden Valley.  

“Lynn started going to Eden Valley as a day patient. She told me, ‘If it’s just sitting around talking about illness and death, I won’t be going back.’ But it wasn’t like that at all. It was normal – people chatting about their kids, their holidays, just everyday life.”

“While Lynn was with other patients, I found support too and joined a group of carers – people like me looking after their loved ones. We shared experiences and had discussions on grief, complementary therapy, nutrition, and the hospice even helped with practical things like power of attorney and filling out forms – things I’d never have known otherwise.” 

Eventually, Lynn needed more care, so she moved into the hospice. And Michael admits he wasn’t sure what to expect.  

“I thought a hospice was just a place where people with cancer went to die. But when Lynn moved in, I realised how much more it was. It was home from home, and the staff looked after us both, not just Lynn. Everyone around genuinely cared about us. They took the time to get to know us and would pick up on things.”

“Lynn loved her garden – she was incredibly proud of it. And when one of the nurses suggested she go home for half a day to see it, I couldn’t believe it. It hadn’t crossed my mind we could do that – I thought once you were in the hospice, that was it.” 

The hospice was much more than vital medical care for Michael and Lynn. It was about helping them continue living their lives the way they decided all those years ago, by making the most of it. And there was one moment that Michael says will stay with him forever. 

“We’d been in the hospice for about two weeks when Lynn said to me, ‘Michael, I’m really worried they’re going to discharge me today. It’s so busy here.’ She didn’t want to be a burden to the hospice but didn’t want to go home and be a burden on me either. Really, she wanted to stay in the place she felt safe and cared for.” 

“That afternoon, we met with the medical director to discuss Lynn’s condition. And before they could say anything, Lynn, in her forthright manner, asked, ‘Are you going to send me home?’ They smiled and said, ‘Of course not. You’re very welcome to stay.’”

“I’ll never forget the look on Lynn’s face. She broke into such a smile and tears came to both our eyes – it was total comfort.”  

Michael and Lynn had ten more days together before Lynn passed away. 

“We held hands and thanked each other and talked about how lucky we’d been. We couldn’t have had a better ending.” 

“It’s impossible to put a price on hospice care. That’s one of the reasons Lynn and I decided to leave a gift in our Wills to Eden Valley.” 

“Without this kind of support, their care will disappear. Any of us might need this service one day – for ourselves or a loved one. It needs to be protected. And no matter the size of gift, we can all make a difference.”