One of the priorities for Suzie Holmes this Christmas is to make it truly memorable for a young mother-of-three with just months to live.
The cancer specialist social worker, based in Bristol, primarily works with teens and young adults in her role for Young Lives vs Cancer.
And end of life planning and bereavement have become an area of particular focus for her.
Among her cases this year is a mother in her twenties with three young children, who has been given a short time to live.
The most important thing for the family is to make this Christmas as special as possible and capture great memories for the children.
“This Christmas will probably be her last one”, said Ms Holmes, “So we are focusing on making it special.
“It’s about making memories and keepsakes.”
They have got Build-a-Bear teddies for her children, into which the mum is putting special gifts. And they plan to make pieces of art together with the children, which they can treasure.
“For now, it’s practical stuff, but it will get much more emotional as we go along”, admitted Ms Holmes, “We want to make sure dad is supported.”
The former social worker has been working for Young Lives vs Cancer for 14 years, initially based in London at University College London Hospital.
Since 2012, she has been living and working in the Bristol area.
“There’s no standard week – it’s such a variety of things”, she said, “Helping young people come to terms with a diagnosis or planning for end of life, planning their funerals, doing a will with them, or there’s a day where you need to go to someone who has just been diagnosed.
“It’s about giving families support, making them feel comfortable.
“We do art workshops for bereaved parents, quizzes and workshops for inpatients on the unit – that’s why I like the job, every day and every patient is so different.”
Ms Holmes has spent 14 years working for Young Lives vs Cancer (Photo: Young LIves vs Cancer)The charity is focused on children and young people, aged from 0 to 25, helping them and their families face the realities of a cancer diagnosis.
For some, this can ultimately mean a bereavement – an area in which Ms Holmes and the charity offer specialised support.
“When people lose someone, their ‘hospital family’ is suddenly gone but we are the one consistent thing that does stay”, she said.
The specialist social workers continue to work with the families of those who have died, offering practical, financial and emotional support, sometimes for up to two years.
For one bereaved mum, this meant helping her with debt and housing issues for the first few months after her daughter died, when she was too anxious to leave the house.
Ms Holmes stepped in to ensure she wouldn’t become homeless and could get back to a place where she felt able to go out and face the world.
“Sorting out debt is a hard enough process for people not going through trauma”, she said, “But she now has no debts and can go outside again.”
Bereavement support can come in many forms. Ms Holmes arranges online support groups, art workshops and walks for those who have lost a loved one.
She has even become a wedding organiser.
Last year, she supported a young man with leukaemia. He and his partner were expecting their first child when he learnt his condition had worsened.
His partner moved into one of the charity’s Home from Home properties during her pregnancy to be near the hospital and Ms Holmes helped them to arrange to marry in the intensive care unit where he was being treated.
Their baby was born on its father’s birthday, just weeks before he died.
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It is this unique, tailored approach to each case which makes the work of the specialist social workers such an essential part of the support the charity can offer.
And this comes at a price, £100,000 funds a Young Lives vs Cancer specialist social worker for more than two years. The charity needs to find £25m a year just to deliver its current service, which is why The i Paper is appealing to readers to donate to its Christmas Appeal.
As Ms Holmes pointed out: “This money can really, really change people’s lives and give them the help they need.”
A Home for Christmas appeal
The i Paper is proud to support Young Lives vs Cancer through its Christmas Appeal, A Home for Christmas, helping to make a lasting difference for families with children facing cancer.
The appeal aims to raise £100,000 to ensure the charity can continue providing vital, tailored support – from financial guidance and emotional care to its “Homes from Home” accommodation centres, which allow families to stay together near hospital during treatment.
To donate, visit younglivesvscancer.org.uk/i-appeal or text IPAPERTEN to 70580 to donate £10 or IPAPERTWENTY to donate £20.*Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
What your money could buy
£5 could print five storybooks to help a child understand the cancer treatment they are having. £10 could buy food so families can cook a meal to enjoy together away from the hospital canteen. £18 helps power a Home from Home for a day. £52 means a social worker could provide emotional and practical support (such as applying for financial help or attending difficult appointments) so children and their families don’t have to face cancer alone. £70 could pay for a family stay in a Young Lives vs Cancer Home from Home so they can be near their child in hospital with cancer. £100 could fund a hardship grant for families.Hence then, the article about i m helping a young mum of three with terminal cancer have a special christmas was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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