As one of the largest adult hospices in the UK, Saint Francis Hospice serves the populations of Havering, Brentwood, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge and West Essex.
Their team of specialist consultants, doctors, nurses and a range of other health and social care professionals provide care and support to individuals with a life-limiting illness, as well as their carers and family members, completely free of charge.
To find out more, visit sfh.org.uk
MARK’S STORY
Avid West Ham fan Mark Taylor and his wife Emily were happily married with two beautiful children, Max and Lily. Here, Emily tells us about Mark’s incredible positivity after he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and how his experience of care and support at Saint Francis Hospice helped Mark and his family to find comfort and peace.
My husband Mark, was an amazing Dad and husband. We were his world and he was ours. We were together 25 years. We met on a blind date. I used to work with Mark’s sister Helen and although I always knew about Mark, I had never met him. We were both in our late 20’s then and both single and one day, Helen said to me, “Why don’t you go on a date with my brother? You won’t fancy him, but you’ll get on well!”
He came to my flat in north London and we went for a drink. We really hit it off. At first, I just saw him as my friend Helen’s brother, but something just clicked. We were engaged six months later and by then I felt like I had known him my whole life. He made me laugh and he was handsome as well so that was an added bonus! We got married in 1999 and a couple of years later had Max and then Lily. Life was good and our little family complete.
At the beginning of 2018 our lives changed when Mark was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. He had various rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and major surgery called an Ivor Lewis which involved the removal of his oesophagus and three quarters of his stomach which was life changing, especially with him being such a ‘foodie’.
Despite his initial treatment being successful, in 2020, we were given the devastating news that his cancer had come back in his lungs and was incurable but treatable. Later in December 2021 a lump came up on Mark’s arm. Two weeks before Christmas, Mark had a scan and we found out the cancer had spread to his muscles and his bones. That was when his oncologist told him he was now terminal and she was going to refer him to Saint Francis Hospice for pain management.
Mark was extremely apprehensive on hearing this news as we knew so little about the services the hospice provides. It was the weekly phone calls and visits that Mark received from them that educated us in realising that it was a place so much more than to be your final resting place.
Mark was initially admitted for two weeks for pain management. During this time Mark received amazing care not only from the incredible doctors and nurses on the medical team but also ways to help him to remain positive which involved so many new therapy and wellbeing treatments.
Mark’s cancer unexpectedly progressed during this time and although he was expected to return home, Mark decided to remain at the hospice and continue to benefit from the amazing care he was receiving.
This care extended to us as a family when we were moved into a family room in order for us to spend our last few days together. Mark passed away on Valentines Day 2022 with myself, Max and Lily by his side. It was so dignified and he looked like he was just sleeping and he still looked so handsome.
The care didn’t stop there as Lily still regularly attends counselling sessions provided by the hospice which also gives me the opportunity to catch up with members of staff, some of the nursing team and Reverend Paula Graham who Mark befriended during his time there and who conducted his funeral, as were his wishes.
Since then, Lily has received a Jack Petchey award for her progress in her counselling sessions and Max’s workplace have also made a charitable donation to the hospice in memory of his Dad so, despite experiencing our loss at the hospice, we gained an appreciation like no other of the care and compassion that we experienced as a family.
Mark felt very strongly that he wanted people to be aware of the special place that Saint Francis Hospice is and to realise it is so much more than a final resting place.
Please make a donation by visiting justgiving.com/campaign/westhamfoundation-sfh-game – with your help Saint Francis Hospice can be there to care and support more people like Mark and his family when they need it the most.