“The best care she could have got” – Payal’s story

Payal Patel was a force of nature. At 43, she was full of energy, laughter, and love – someone who lit up every room and made lifelong friends in minutes.

“She was very bubbly, outgoing, very social,” says her sister Anokhi. “Her social network was huge.”

Everyone who met Payal remembers her warmth — how she remembered the little things: your favourite drink, your favourite colour, even if she’d only just met you.

“She had a way of creating very tight bonds with everybody,” says her cousin Pooja, who flew in from America the moment she heard Payal was unwell. “If she knew you for five minutes, she’d remember everything you told her.”

Payal had just taken the next big step in her life. After years managing her father’s restaurant in Harrow, she was thrilled to take over her own place — The Greyhound Inn in Gerrards Cross.

“She got the keys on 12 August,” Anokhi says. “She was there for about a week… and then she started feeling unwell.”

Before diving into her new venture, Payal treated herself to a holiday in Zanzibar with her best friend. But when she returned, she wasn’t feeling right.

“She came back with stomach pain and vomiting,” Anokhi recalls. “Eventually they found a parasite.”

Doctors treated her, but when symptoms lingered, they ran more tests – and found a mass on her liver. It was cancer.

“The cancer wasn’t curable,” says Anokhi. “The treatment was only to prolong her life. But by the time they completed the second biopsy… the cancer had already spread through her liver.”

As Payal’s condition worsened, she developed severe water retention, which made even simple movements painful.

“It was really difficult for her to even walk, sit down, lie down, sleep,” says her cousin Sandeep.

The family turned to St Luke’s Hospice, where they were reassured it wasn’t just about end-of-life care, but comfort and pain relief.

“The nurse suggested that she’d get round-the-clock care at St Luke’s,” Sandeep explains. “And I think that’s what she needed. She agreed.”

When Payal heard there were massages, she smiled and said, “I’m going!”

At St Luke’s, Payal had her own room with French doors looking out onto the gardens. Her family and closest friends were able to be by her side day and night.

“My aunt, cousins, and her best friend stayed with her,” Anokhi says. “It was calm. Peaceful.”

“St Luke’s was the best thing,” Sandeep adds. “Not just for her, but for us visiting. The nurses were always so kind.”

“It was her final week… and it was the best care she could have got,” Anokhi says. “Even when we left at night, we knew she was in safe hands.”

Payal passed away on 25 November, just two days before her treatment was due to start. But her final days were filled with love, comfort, and dignity.

More than 1,500 people came to her prayer service in Wembley — a true reflection of how deeply she touched people’s lives.

The family created a tribute page with St Luke’s, raising over £16,800 to support the hospice.

And her legacy lives on.

“My dad’s organising a golf event in her memory,” Anokhi says. “They’re calling it the Payal Cup — it’s going to be an annual thing.”

At her beloved pub, a memorial garden is being created — one of the many dreams she had for the space.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, Payal’s final days were filled with peace, comfort, and love.

Please consider donating to help other families receive the same care and support.