Macmillan Unit fundraiser in memory of Ted Cooper

I wish to set up a fundraiser for the Macmillan Unit Antrim which is currently based at the Mid-Ulster Hospital site in memory of my Dad who passed away aged 63 in May 2020 after receiving the most amazing care by all the Macmillan Team particularly during the last few weeks of his life. 

I cannot even begin to explain the impactthe staff at the unit have made on our lives as a family, making what was the hardest time in our lives much more bearable than I could ever have hoped for. I will be forever grateful for the gold standard of care my Dad received throughout his entire stay at the hospice.

Dad was initially diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2017 and after surgery and numerous chemotherapy cycles we thankfully got given the gift of some more time, but it was never going to be long enough. Then in February 2020 his health began to deteriorate rapidly and we thankfully were placed under the care and guidance of our lovely NI hospice nurse. She recommended that Dad went to the Macmillan unit in March for a few weeks and I know Dad and I found this extremely overwhelming as I think this was when it really hit home that Dad had terminal cancer. With much reluctance he went into the unit and soon settled as the staff were so welcoming and friendly and just made our little family feel completely at ease. As a daughter and Dad’s only child I felt a weight had been lifted as I knew he was in the best hands and having the care he deserved, which to me was nothing but the best. 

Unfortunately during his first stay for pain management the unit had to be moved to the mid ulster site due to Covid-19 requirements and this caused a lot of disruption to Dad and the unit in general. Thankfully Dad got a lot more time at home after the team managed to get his symptoms under control and we were able to be athome with the district nursing team coming everyday and Marie Curie nurses calling when needed however towards the end it all became too much and Dad asked to go back into the hospice.

Our amazing nurse Leanne offered to arrange a bed for Dad at the Belfast NI hospice as she knew we weren’t so keen on the set up when the Macmillan unit was moved but we agreed it would be for the best to go back because Dad knew the staff there and they knew him and his weird and wonderful ways! 

I can honestly say the staff at the Macmillan unit Antrim are angels in disguise andI couldn’t have got through seeing my Dad’s condition worsen and losing him without their help and support. I know we were both terrified of what lay ahead with Cancer but they made the whole experience so much less scary and constantly kept me updated about Dad’s condition and treatment plan. Even throughout the added challenge of a global pandemic they made us feel like Dad was the number one priority and couldn’t do enough to facilitate our family’s needs.

Anyone who knows me knows my Dad was my world, my everything and I was very lucky to have such a close relationship with him. All I want to do now is show a little thanks to all the staff at the Macmillan unit for giving me precious memories that will last a lifetime. Dad always referred to me as his PA when all the chemo sessions and endless hospital visits began (well as we know men aren’t the best at organising things!) and I have personally felt quite lost after losing him and actually miss those all day Tuesday sessions at Laurel house and bringing him his Big Mac whilst he sat hooked up to the pump, or taking him his Jamison caramels to the hospice therefore with the help of friends I am currently arranging a Macmillan coffee morning on 11th September to help fundraise for the unit and give a little thanks to Macmillan, you are all amazing! 

Also due to covid restrictions we were unable to hold a funeral service that friends and other family members could attendso I will be arranging a life celebration in memory of my Dad in the future so I can basically just talk about how wonderfullyawesome he was and always will be.

Thank you for any donations, it means so much to me and I know it would to Dad xx