Mick & Sharon's Story - We got married at the hospice

I met Sharon later in life, after going through a divorce. I didn’t think I’d be lucky enough to find love again, but then I met her, and I felt like the luckiest man alive.

Around Christmas one year, we went to Lanzarote. Sharon hadn’t been feeling well. She wasn’t eating much, and one day she turned to me and said, “I think I have throat cancer,” and then, “I think I’ll be gone within the year.” It was a gut punch. She went for a biopsy, and we were told it was all clear. But deep down, I think Sharon knew something wasn’t right. She kept losing weight and eventually could only manage liquids.

Not long after, we got the news: stage four cancer. From that moment, everything moved so quickly. Sharon became more and more poorly, and no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn’t manage her pain at home. It was heartbreaking to see someone you love suffering and not be able to help.

Before things got too bad, we managed one final trip to Harrogate, our happy place, together. I’m so grateful we got that time. Shortly after that trip Sharon was admitted to the to the Dove House Inpatient Unit.

To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect, my understanding of hospices was completely wrong. From the moment we arrived, they treated us like family. They offered me a place to stay in the Family Suites just above the hospice, and it meant so much that Sharon could come upstairs to be with me. It felt like a home away from home.

Friends and family could visit, which made a world of difference, not just for Sharon, but for me too. One of the little things I’ll never forget is how Sharon suddenly fancied some French onion soup. She probably wouldn’t have been able to eat it, but the hospice staff still made some especially for her. That’s the kind of place Dove House is, nothing is too much trouble.

Even our dogs were welcome to visit. Sharon was overjoyed to have them by her side. It’s the small things that mean the most, and they thought of everything.

We were at Dove House for most of September, and the care, the support, the comfort, everything, was done with kindness and compassion. Whether it was the cleaning staff or the doctors, every single person had a smile on their face. We never asked for anything, yet everything was done for us. It’s hard to describe, but we both felt truly looked after.

The gardens were a gift. Just being able to sit outside brought Sharon such peace. You could see it on the faces of other patients too, a real sense of relief.  It seems that at Dove House, they’ve got their ethos absolutely right.
Time became very precious. Sharon and I had always talked about getting married but kept putting it off. Now, we knew we didn’t have long. She told me she really wanted to get married, and Dove House made it happen. They didn’t just arrange a wedding; they created something beautiful. They decorated with balloons and flowers, and the catering team even made wedding cupcakes. It was more than we could have ever asked for, and it meant everything to both of us. It’s a memory I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life.
Sharon passed away not long after, but she was happy and peaceful.

I can never thank Dove House enough for giving Sharon the love, dignity, and care she deserved, and for helping her fulfil her dying wish of us getting married. Everyone should be able to access hospice care. If sharing our story helps just one person find the courage to reach out to Dove House, then it’s worth it.