Tommy’s Story – Light up a Life

Tommy’s dad, Lee, was cared for at Barnsley Hospice in 2024, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. This Light up a Life, Tommy and his family are dedicating a light for Lee in celebration of his life.

“My dad was truly my best friend, and my three boys thought he was the best man to walk the planet. Nothing was better than a sausage roll on the train on the way to the Etihad with Grandad Lee.

“Barnsley Hospice supported me and my family through the darkest and most heartbreaking time of our lives. No words will ever truly express the gratitude we have for the incredible care, compassion, and dignity they showed us. “From the moment we walked through their doors, we were made to feel safe, welcome, and at home. During a time when our world had fallen apart, they became a place of comfort and strength. Nothing was ever too much trouble for the amazing staff. They instinctively knew when to give us the privacy we desperately needed, yet they were always there with a reassuring smile, a comforting hand, or simply someone to listen whenever we needed them.

“One example of the incredible support they gave me personally was allowing me to stay at the hospice with my dad for the final 13 days of his life. Those 13 days are something I will cherish forever. I’ve said this before, and I will always say it: those 13 days were both the best and the worst days of my life. They were the worst because I knew I was saying goodbye to my dad. But they were also the best because they gave us the precious gift of time together—time to talk, to laugh, to cry, watch football, have a beer, and to make memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

“Barnsley Hospice gave my dad the dignity and comfort he deserved, and they gave me something that no amount of money could ever buy: the chance to simply be his son until the very end. For that, I will be forever grateful.

“For me, Light Up a Life at Barnsley Hospice is so much more than lighting a light—it’s a way of keeping my dad’s memory alive and continuing to share his story, and ours.

“If sharing our story helps even one family feel a little less frightened, a little more at peace, or gives them confidence that their loved one will be in the very best hands, then my dad’s legacy will continue to make a difference—just as Barnsley Hospice continues to make a difference to so many families every single day. Barnsley Hospice was there for my family when we needed them most, and I will never be able to repay everything they gave us.

Supporting Light Up a Life is my way of saying thank you, while helping to ensure that other families can receive the same love, comfort, and support that meant so much to us.”

If you’d like to dedicate a light and make a donation to support our care and services, please visit our Light up a Life page.