In Memory of Chris Redman
Donation protected
As most of you will know the marvellous man that was Chris Redman was lost to the world on 21 April. His family have been overwhelmed and taken great solace from the outpouring of love, offers of support, assistance and acts of kindness shown for Chris, Marie their children Christopher, Aaron, Ashah and Natalie and their extended family. They have asked that his wishes be known for those who may be interested. Chris’s funeral will take place on Thursday 21 May at Streetly Crematorium at 3.15. In the current situation and due to restrictions the funeral can only be attended by 10 of his family, this will be a very different experience than it would have been in normal circumstances as Chris was a man who was not only known but loved by a world of people.
All the adjectives do not exist, nor would they suffice to describe Chris as a man, as a partner, as a son,as a brother, as a father and grandfather and dear friend to all who knew him. We will all use most of these words when reflecting on the Chris we knew. However, for the purpose of this piece suffice to say he was our wonderful warrior.
In the prime of his youth Chris was diagnosed with kidney disease that led to him being a three times kidney transplant recipient over the course of his all too short life. He had long periods of time on dialysis between times and was a frequent flier at the Renal department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Chris formed long standing, mutually respectful, relationships with staff in the department and was known for his all too familiar humour and bellowing laugh. If it can be the case that you can feel at ease in a medical setting Chris did so at the QE, he would say ‘that is my hospital’.
Gratitude to the medical professionals and all of their colleagues was always at the heart of Chris’s talk about ‘his hospital’. Life changingly intertwined with this was the often voiced appreciation and gratitude for the traumatic decisions 3 families had to make at the most awful time for them when the decision was made to donate the organs of their loved ones that gave Chris the chance to live his best life.
While Chris’s health struggle could have made him introspective and isolated he chose the other path and always had time for fellow patients and both offered and received comfort and solace from their presence, experience and guidance. As part of the renal patient community Chris was an ardent supporter of the Kidney Patients Association (KPA) at the QE. The charitable group enabled Chris to access dialysis at home or even away for a few days by funding specialist equipment and resources that were not readily available on the NHS at the time. This allowed Chris to live a more normal life with the family as opposed to going in to the hospital 4 times a week.
Chris had shared his end of life wishes with his family and these included his choice for cremation and that he did not want flowers at his funeral. He requested that as an alternative donations should be made to the Kidney Patients Association (KPA) at the QE in order to benefit other individuals and their families In the way he had been supported. If anyone who knew and loved Chris and his beautiful family would like to support them at this most sad of times any money raised would be gratefully accepted and used directly to support the family who could then allocate funds to donate to the KPA.
All the adjectives do not exist, nor would they suffice to describe Chris as a man, as a partner, as a son,as a brother, as a father and grandfather and dear friend to all who knew him. We will all use most of these words when reflecting on the Chris we knew. However, for the purpose of this piece suffice to say he was our wonderful warrior.
In the prime of his youth Chris was diagnosed with kidney disease that led to him being a three times kidney transplant recipient over the course of his all too short life. He had long periods of time on dialysis between times and was a frequent flier at the Renal department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Chris formed long standing, mutually respectful, relationships with staff in the department and was known for his all too familiar humour and bellowing laugh. If it can be the case that you can feel at ease in a medical setting Chris did so at the QE, he would say ‘that is my hospital’.
Gratitude to the medical professionals and all of their colleagues was always at the heart of Chris’s talk about ‘his hospital’. Life changingly intertwined with this was the often voiced appreciation and gratitude for the traumatic decisions 3 families had to make at the most awful time for them when the decision was made to donate the organs of their loved ones that gave Chris the chance to live his best life.
While Chris’s health struggle could have made him introspective and isolated he chose the other path and always had time for fellow patients and both offered and received comfort and solace from their presence, experience and guidance. As part of the renal patient community Chris was an ardent supporter of the Kidney Patients Association (KPA) at the QE. The charitable group enabled Chris to access dialysis at home or even away for a few days by funding specialist equipment and resources that were not readily available on the NHS at the time. This allowed Chris to live a more normal life with the family as opposed to going in to the hospital 4 times a week.
Chris had shared his end of life wishes with his family and these included his choice for cremation and that he did not want flowers at his funeral. He requested that as an alternative donations should be made to the Kidney Patients Association (KPA) at the QE in order to benefit other individuals and their families In the way he had been supported. If anyone who knew and loved Chris and his beautiful family would like to support them at this most sad of times any money raised would be gratefully accepted and used directly to support the family who could then allocate funds to donate to the KPA.
Organizer
Michele Darke
Organizer