This November, Ally Gentry will be speaking at Lights of Life. It will be her fourteenth time attending in memory of her father, Geoff, who received care on our Inpatient Unit in 2010 following a lung cancer diagnosis.
When Geoff first arrived at the Hospice, the family didn’t think he would make it back home. He was ’really suffering’ when he first arrived on the Inpatient Unit, struggling to get his pain under control and becoming weaker by the day.
Thanks to the care of our expert teams though, Geoff regained his strength and was discharged after two weeks. He lived another 18 months, which daughter Ally credits to the time he spent at the Hospice, plus the ongoing support from he rececived from our Rehab and Wellbeing team to manage symptoms such as breathlessness.
“We thought we were saying goodbye, but we got so much longer,” Ally recalls. “That’s why the Hospice is so important to us. They did so much to help - not just dad, the whole family were looked after. Mum, for instance, was offered counselling. We felt like we were part of a community that understood what we were going through.”
The extra time Geoff lived meant he was able to meet Ally’s daughter - his first grandchild, Molly. The same month he died, the family were invited to Lights of Life and they’ve attended every year since.
Ally with Cohen and Molly as youngsters at Lights of Life
“Molly was just nine months old when dad passed away. We had a photo together in front of the Christmas tree and have taken one every year since, later joined by Molly’s younger brother, Cohen. It’s become a family tradition.”
“It’s always such a beautiful service. I always feel a deep sadness, but sometimes the pain of grief is comforting. You want to remember, you want to feel that connection again.”
Over the years attending Lights of Life, Ally has seen lots of changes. From the service taking part in various churches, being held virtually during lockdown and finally coming to the stunning gardens of the Hospice, she’s cherished every moment.
Ally, Molly and Cohen at Lights of Life in 2024
“As painful and difficult as the service can be, it’s honestly my favourite event of the year. It’s the start of my Christmas. I don’t feel like I can celebrate it until I have been to the service and been with my dad.”