Sunflower Memories: Edith’s story
After Edith Morgan’s husband, Harold, and two close family members were cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates sunflowers in their memories as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Edith shares how it helps her to remember loved ones in a tranquil summer setting and give back for the care her family received.
I’ve had connections with Pilgrims Hospices for over ten years; my brother, husband, and sister-in-law have all been cared for by Pilgrims and I have been amazed by the hospice every time. I first found out about Pilgrims when my brother, George, was admitted to the Ashford hospice in 2009, after living with a terminal illness for seven years. It was my first experience of a hospice, and I was very impressed. The care and consideration that was shown there was amazing, and the peace it brought was so wonderful.
My husband, Harold, was cared for at home by the wonderful Pilgrims nurses. The kindness and understanding the staff showed us was just incredible, and helped us immensely. I often called for help and advice, and one of their nurses came to visit us at home regularly, and was there shortly before Harold died at home in 2016.
I had always got such pleasure from walking in the gardens at the hospice, so when I found out there was an event that saw them covered with sunflowers I really wanted to go. I do my best to attend each year; although I don’t have my own transport, my niece, Polly, attends with me, and we enjoy coming to see the sunflowers and sharing our memories.Edith
Shortly after he passed away, my sister-in-law, Maureen, spent her final week in the Canterbury hospice, after being supported by the staff there throughout her illness. Our whole family was helped through a dreadful time; the aftercare of my brother and his family was wonderful and is still going on.
It was soon after Maureen died that I heard about Sunflower Memories, and I thought it was such a lovely idea I knew I had to take part. I had always got such pleasure from walking in the gardens at the hospice, so when I found out there was an event that saw them covered with sunflowers I really wanted to go. I do my best to attend each year; although I don’t have my own transport, my niece, Polly, attends with me, and we enjoy coming to see the sunflowers and sharing our memories.
Last year, I set up an annual direct debit so now I have the assurance of knowing that every year Harold and Maureen will always be two of the many sunflowers in the display. I love the hospice and the staff and I am so grateful to them for being there for me and my family.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
- Email: supporter.relations@pilgrimshospices.org
- Telephone: 01227 782 062
