This summer, we’re inviting people to remember someone special through our Sunflower Appeal, a simple way to celebrate a life, share a memory, and help other families receive compassionate care at home. 

For Kimberly and her family, dedicating a sunflower is a way to honour her grandmother Dorothy, who was cared for by Nottinghamshire Hospice in the final weeks of her life. 

A family determined to keep Dorothy at home 

“My Mommar was always like a second mum to me. Like with all their grandchildren, my grandparents were a huge part of my life. She had a heart of gold and an infectious smile that matched that, she is sorely missed by us all every day.” 

“Her and my Grandpa had been together since they were in their early twenties, they met and married in Nottingham, had 2 children, and always lived in Nottingham. They came as a pair and were always hand in hand, we’ve always said “they don’t make love like that anymore.”

In 2023, Dorothy was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour. After a period of recovery, her condition began to deteriorate, and by the end of 2025 she had become bedbound and unable to communicate properly.

As her needs increased, so did the pressure on her family.

“As a family we grouped together to set up a space downstairs for her so my Mommar and Grandpa could still be together, but eventually we had to have a hospital bed put in the living room.”

“They didn’t want carers initially. My Grandpa wanted to do everything for her, he didn’t want to let her down. But we started to realise how much stress and pressure he was under. We were watching him decline as well.

He was finding it hard, but he’d never admit to that, he always wanted to give the best to her. He loved her and it was hard watching her deteriorate in front of his eyes. In the end we agreed we would need to get some additional help.”

Support when it mattered most 

Kimberly and her family were doing everything they could during the day to help care for her, but nights became increasingly difficult. 

“It was overnight that we were struggling with. Mommar could get very panicky and agitated at night when it got dark because she was now downstairs in the living room, and not in her own bedroom. She wanted to stay at home, which was very doable until that last couple of weeks. We didn’t know what we were going to do.” 

When the family reached out, our hospice team responded quickly, providing overnight care and support. 

“It was a rapid pick up from the hospice, they came as soon as we contacted them to aid us and their communication and compassion was amazing. I don’t know what we would have done without them, because we were all struggling.” 

“The nurses were absolutely fantastic. They gave my Grandpa that time and space away to actually sleep and rest himself. And if he didn’t go to bed, they talked to him. They had conversations about my Mommar and I think it was really a form of therapy for him. I don’t think he realised how much they were actually supporting him as well. 

“Having the overnight support completely changed my Grandpa’s outlook on not wanting to accept any help. My mum would tell him there was a nurse available and you could see him relax a bit because he knew he would be getting someone to come overnight.”

This support meant Dorothy could stay where she wanted to be, at home. 

“It was very important to my Mommar that she stayed at home because she loved the house, they had been there for over 20 years. She loved the garden and we could actually have her bed facing towards it. 

Her and my Grandpa never thought that they would be able to move to that house. They were in a smaller terrace house, with a small concrete backyard and they saw this house with a gorgeous front and back garden, everything that they never thought that they would get. 

It’s had so many happy memories of our family; Christmases, Birthdays, Sunday dinners and Summer barbecues. We’ve got dogs as well, my grandparents used to look after them for us all when we had to work, we called it ‘doggy daycare’! So it was equally very important that we could all be together as a family, even our four legged friends!”

Comfort, dignity, and being together 

For Dorothy and her family, being at home made all the difference. 

“It was very comfortable having her at home and it just felt right.” 

“Everything was done as she would have wanted it. She was comfortable and she was at home. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve that had we not had the hospice’s help.” 

Kimberly reflects that, despite the sadness, there is also a sense of comfort in what they were able to achieve together. 

“Even though the memory of having her pass there is still very raw, it still feels like a victory that we managed to keep her wishes to stay at home right up until the end. We know in our hearts that we did everything right by her.”

Giving back through the Sunflower Appeal

After experiencing the hospice’s care first-hand, Kimberly and her family wanted to give something back. 

“Everybody that came was so kind, the Hospice helped more than anyone else could have and we are really grateful for that. 

We as a family wouldn’t like anybody else to struggle through circumstances like ours. We would never have put ourselves in this situation, it turned our world upside down. 

Even one day or one night of care makes a huge difference, you can gain a few hours of respite back, allowing you to spend that quality time with your loved one. We just can’t thank the Hospice enough.”  

This summer, they are supporting our Sunflower Appeal in memory of Dorothy.

By dedicating a sunflower, they are helping ensure other families can receive the same care, support, and compassion when they need it most.

Dedicate a sunflower in memory of someone you love 

Our Sunflower Appeal offers a meaningful way to remember someone special. 

You can dedicate a sunflower with a personal message, which will become part of a beautiful display at the hospice or our online digital meadow. 

Each dedication helps us continue to provide free, compassionate end-of-life care for families across Nottinghamshire. 

💛 Dedicate your sunflower today and be part of something special.