“They just wanted to do whatever they could to help”

With Mother’s Day approaching, many of us will be thinking about the people who cared for us as we grew up – mums, grandmothers and the mother figures who shape our lives. For some, it is also a time to remember someone deeply loved.

St Luke’s staff and volunteers helped ensure Kathy Twyman received the care she needed when it mattered most.

“It was like they knew her personally and they all just wanted to do whatever they could to help.”

That’s how Wendy Wood describes the care her mum, Kathy, received at St Luke’s Hospice in Kenton.

Wendy had known Kathy for more than 25 years. They met while Wendy was working at Morrisons in Hatch End, when Kathy noticed her sitting quietly during a break and came over to talk.

Over time that conversation turned into a close friendship, and eventually something deeper. Wendy always called her “little mummy”, and from then on Kathy was simply Mum.

Kathy, from Pinner, spent the final month of her life there after being diagnosed with end-stage pancreatic cancer. The pain could be severe, and morphine didn’t always help. Some nights were especially difficult.

“One night when her pain was really bad, one of the nurses sat with her nearly all night just trying to comfort her.”

Staff monitored her closely — checking pain relief, blood pressure and blood sugars. Wendy remembers a “constant stream of medical care”, delivered gently and with dignity. When Kathy needed turning, they were careful. When her pain spiked, they responded. Wendy says she “never had to wait for anything”.

Wendy stayed often. She remembers sitting on the bed one morning and having breakfast together — small, precious moments made possible because her mum was safe and cared for.

“They made life so much easier for both of us,” Wendy says. “I’ve never known anywhere like this before.”

After Kathy died, Wendy returned for bereavement support.

“I can talk properly here,” she says. “We talk about a lot of things, and sometimes we even have a bit of a laugh.”

Your support ensures families like Wendy and Kathy receive this care — and that someone is there when it matters most.

Visit our Supporting Us page to find out how you can help.