Will you help families like Holly's?

Holly Smith (25) lost her mum Maxine (54) to sarcoma cancer in January, just four months after her inital diagnosis. For Holly, the journey was heart-breaking but thanks to St Columba's Hospice Care, she and her family never had to face it alone.

"My mum was a vibrant, fun-loving, force of nature. Always putting her family first, she was the most devoted mother to my sister Emily and I. We were her world and she was ours.

"Last year, Mum became unwell, experiencing severe pain and bleeding, which was initially diagnosed as fibroids. An emergency hysterectomy was meant to be the solution, but during the procedure, doctors discovered something far more devastating- an aggressive form of sarcoma cancer that had gone undetected. 

"At this point, Mum was referred to the Hospice and from the moment she arrived, everything changed. The warmth, the kindness, the comfort- as a family we were welcomed with open arms and within days. Mum found herself again. She enjoyed hot meals, relaxed in  a jacuzzi bath and even got a fresh haircut.

"Emily and I had beds to sleep in and we enjoyed space to be together as a family. We laughed, watched TV, were able to book in for massages and had the constant support of the most compassionate team of nurses, doctors and staff. The Hospice was not just a place of care- it was a home, filled with love, joy and dignity.

"Remarkably, Mum improved. Gaining strength and a renewed sense of self, the team said they could have her home in time for Christmas - something none of us had dared to hope for. They were there at every stage, she was able to stay at home, surrounded by love, and we knew help was just a phone call away.

"Mum spent her final weeks at the Western General, too unwell to return to the Hospice she had come to love. On January 30th 2025, she lost her battle with sarcoma cancer. The support we received from the Hospice was second to none and mum's appreciation for the team was immeasureable. She wished for its support to reach as many families as possible and I hope sharing our family's story will help ensure that more people can find the comfort, dignity, and love that my mum received in final months."