Charlotte Mijatovic – a wife’s story for Alex
“I will never forget the love the hospice showed Alex and our whole family. They make you feel like you’re special, like you have their full focus – and that’s exactly what you need at that time.
“You just need to feel supported, and they give you that completely. The staff become like family and the hospice feels like a home. It really is a special place,” explained Charlotte Mijatovic, whose husband, Alex, received support from St Elizabeth Hospice until his death, aged 38-years-old, on 21 March 2026.
Annually, St Elizabeth Hospice cares for more than 4,000 patients and their families throughout East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. This care sees the independent Suffolk charity providing free services – whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice – to those living with a progressive or life-limiting illness.
“Alex was a great father, very loving and very funny. He loved winding people up, but he could always take a joke too,” said Charlotte, who lives in Ipswich.
“He was incredibly kind and absolutely doted on our two girls, April and Luna. Alex also loved cars, in fact after his diagnosis, he bought a Mercedes A-Class AMG, a car he’d always wanted, and it brought him so much joy. More than anything, though, he loved his family.
“Alex had a long-standing connection with St Elizabeth Hospice. Twelve years before his own diagnosis, his mum had received care from the hospice before she died from cancer.
“When Alex became ill, he was clear that he wanted to be cared for there, remembering the exceptional support his mum had received.
“He also knew the hospice professionally through his work as a graphic designer at Seale Print & Direct Mail, where he supported the charity on a number of projects, including designing its annual Spring Raffle.
“In fact, he was working on the 2026 Spring Raffle design as recently as January while in hospital, determined to complete it for the hospice.
“Alex’s kidney cancer diagnosis came in April 2023. Initially tests revealed a large tumour and from the outset, it was unusually aggressive and spread quickly.
“The diagnosis came as a shock, as he hadn’t been unwell and had very little symptoms, apart from some discomfort and being bloated.
“Following this news, Alex was referred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for specialist surgery to remove the mass. He then started on intravenous immunotherapy every three weeks.
“It worked for a while, but eventually it stopped being effective. At this point, in December 2024, the cancer had spread to other parts of his body.
“He had radiotherapy to help manage the pain which helped. Despite everything he was facing, Alex carried on working throughout his treatment because that was just the sort of person he was.
“In December 2025, his health declined and it was discovered the cancer had spread further. That’s when the doctors told us there wasn’t much more they could do and they recommended we contact St Elizabeth Hospice.
“It was an incredibly tough day. Deep down, we knew that moment was going to come, but hearing those words made it feel so real.
“We came under the hospice’s care in January 2026, and Alex was there for six weeks until his death. The team provided him with lots of pain management and just gave him the most amazing compassionate care.
“Alex’s room on the Inpatient Unit was lovely. They even provided a cuddle bed, so the girls could get on the bed with Alex and have cuddles with him.
“They gave me a bed so I could be with him overnight. In fact, I slept over almost every night and sometimes the girls would stay over and we were able to use the comfy family suite.
“Throughout our time with the hospice, they were always looking for ways to personalise their support and help us make memories as a family.
“For instance, Alex absolutely loved his cat, Ro Ro, and being able to have him visit at the hospice meant so much to him. It made such a difference to have that little piece of home with him.
“The staff were wonderful with our girls too. They’d get them ice creams, chat with them, and make them feel so welcome. The girls had no fear of coming here at all.
“It was also so lovely that our friends and family could come and visit. We were able to spend that precious time together in such a calm and welcoming environment.
“One day the staff even arranged for Princess Elsa (pictured below), from Frozen, to come and visit the girls. Alex joined in too and wore Elsa’s crown!
“We also had a pizza and movie night together. Alex had a bucket list of films that we had loved watching when we were younger, and he wanted the girls to experience them with him. We’d been working our way through the list, and the only one we had left was Mrs Doubtfire.
“The hospice found a copy of the film and the staff went above and beyond. They made little cinema tickets for us and organised a proper ‘Mijatovic Movie Night’ with popcorn, sweets and pizza (pictured above). It was just a perfect family film evening.
“That was the last time I really heard Alex laugh. Seeing him enjoying that film with his girls is a memory I’ll always treasure, and I’m so grateful they were able to share that moment with their dad.
“Just before Alex died, it was Mother’s Day, and the hospice did something so thoughtful for us. They gave me a bag of gifts, flowers, some beauty treatments, and tickets for us to visit Africa Alive and Banham Zoo.
“One of the most precious things Alex did was prepare birthday cards for the girls before he died. He wrote cards for their 16th, 18th and 21st birthdays, signing each one with a personal message.
“Luna received her first card recently. It was incredibly emotional, but it meant so much to know she still had something from her dad on such a special day.
“The day Alex died, the staff were so kind. They gave me all the time I needed with him. There was no pressure or rush. I lay beside him for four hours, just being with him.
“After he died, they gave Alex such dignity. The nurses placed flowers around him, and he looked so peaceful and so handsome.
“When it was time for Alex to leave the hospice, the staff lined the corridor as he was taken out. It was such a respectful gesture. I know they do so much for every patient and family, but somehow they make you feel as though you’re the only people that matter.
“It was actually really hard to leave the hospice staff. They had become such a big part of our lives. I took part in their fundraising Midnight Walk and saw some of the nursing team there, and it was so lovely to see them again.
“The people who work here are incredibly special. They don’t just care for the patient, they care for the whole family.
“When I look back at our time in the hospice, of course I remember how difficult it was, but I also remember the happy moments and the laughter we shared together.
“Without the community’s support, St Elizabeth Hospice simply wouldn’t be there for the families who need it. You never think you’ll need hospice care until it’s your family.
“People often think hospice care is only for older people, but younger families need that support too. While Alex was here, there were other young families going through the same thing. It can happen to anyone.
“You don’t fully understand the difference the hospice makes until you’ve experienced it yourself. Looking back, I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated or fundraised because they made our care possible.
“This is what inspires me to fundraise for the charity too and I’ll do everything I can to raise money and support it in return. It’s a small way of giving something back. I’ll never be able to repay everything they did for us, but I can help make sure other families receive the same care.”
Anna Cleobury, Managing Director at Seale Print & Direct Mail, added: “As a colleague and friend, Alex was very funny. He had real empathy with the clients he worked with, and not one client ever said a bad word about him.
“His level of design and creativity was amazing. Despite his illness, he just wanted to carry on working right up until he came into the hospice. He always said, ‘Work is keeping me going, it’s taking my mind off things.’ It gave him real purpose.
“At Seale, we’ve had a long connection with the hospice dating back to 2010. Having worked alongside the charity over the years, we’ve come to know the team well, so it felt only natural to take part in the Midnight Walk 2026 (pictured above).
“Team Seale Superheroes raised more than £3,000 and, together with Alex’s Army, Charlotte’s team, raised a combined £6,230 in Alex’s memory.”
Charlotte said: “Seale were fantastic to Alex throughout his time there and throughout his treatment. Seeing them take part in the Midnight Walk in his memory was brilliant.
“For myself and my friends, we were adamant that we would do the Midnight Walk too as ‘Alex’s Army’. It wasn’t long after he died, but I was determined to take part.
“Alex had given his blessing for us to do it, and it was the ideal way to honour him. It was an amazing event with a brilliant atmosphere and so many people coming together for one cause, in St Elizabeth Hospice, which makes such a vital difference when support matters most.”
Alex’s family are kindly raising funds in his memory for St Elizabeth Hospice. You can support by clicking the button below.
The whole hospice team wishes to share its gratitude and condolences with Alex’s family.