Kelvin and Joy’s story
Kelvin and Joy’s story is intertwined with much joy, some real sadness and heartbreak, but one of true love that always continued despite everything that happened between them.
Joy and I were married for 25 years, before separating for a time. We always remained close and Joy always knew that I would be there for her if she ever needed me. I knew her so well having been together for nearly 28 years, and I never stopped loving her.
In the early part of 2008, Joy became quite ill, but despite several appointments with her GP, it wasn’t until she had blood tests in mid-2008 that she was eventually diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. From this point onwards, we once more became husband and wife in all but name, and I was with her every step of the way on her very brave fight against this dreadful disease until sadly she passed away at the Pilgrims Hospice in Ashford in the early hours of Saturday 19 December 2009.
I will always be so grateful to the Pilgrims Hospice for the wonderful care that they gave to Joy in her final few days and for all the support they gave to Joy’s family and friends at this time. It also remains very special to me to this very day that on the morning Joy passed away, the hospice had arranged for me to stay overnight with her and that I could be with her during her final few hours before she sadly passed away. The compassion that the hospice staff showed to me will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Although it is now over 16 years since Joy passed away, I still miss her every day and treasure the love that we shared together over so many years.
Kelvin and Joy through the years
The hospice was there for us when we needed them most, and it is for this reason I continue to support them in a number of ways today via the Memory Tree, Sunflower Memories and Trees of Love. For me, leaving a gift in my Will to Pilgrims Hospices is a further way to say thank you to them in Joy’s memory so that others may receive the same wonderful care and support that she did.
