Keith & Heidi’s Hospice Story

“People don’t realise what the hospice is, the breadth of their services and the support they give to patients and their families. St Elizabeth Hospice was a real ray of light for us all,” explained Keith Shepherd, whose wife Heidi Shepherd received support from St Elizabeth Hospice before her death in July 2024.

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.

“Heidi was diagnosed with cancer in June 2024, which was later found at post-mortem to be pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.,” said Keith, who lives near Ipswich.

“After a short period of time receiving support from the hospital, Heidi was admitted to the hospice’s Inpatient Unit on 17 July, before she died a day later aged 50-years-old surrounded by her family and loved ones.”

“For us, the hospice was a real sanctuary. Heidi was astounded with the room she was given on the Inpatient Unit. She just thought it was amazing and she especially loved the sandwiches the team gave her.

“During a period of uncertainty, St Elizabeth Hospice provided calm and helped us all, including Heidi, feel settled.

“Heidi loved her family, our two children, our dog Eddie and wildlife, and thanks to the hospice we were able to be together during the precious time we had left remaining. We could also enjoy the hospice’s beautiful garden, surrounded by nature which meant so much to us.

“Until you’re in that situation, you don’t know what support is available. Nobody wants to need a hospice, but St Elizabeth Hospice is such a warm place to be and Heidi was happy to be there.

“All the staff and volunteers were fantastic. Any question you had was never too much trouble and they looked after us so well, making sure we had what we needed and bringing us cups of coffee and tea.”

“Heidi’s last moments stay with me. On 17 July, she got herself ready for bed, I helped her and we said goodnight. However, the next morning she woke up and couldn’t speak or breathe well.

“The team came straight in, calmed her and gave reassurance. We rang our family so we could all be together. It was beautiful, as Heidi died surrounded by love.

“After her death, the hospice gave us all the time we needed to say goodbye, even letting us take home a crocheted blanket Heidi loved.

“Heidi and I had planned her funeral, choosing the music and asking people not to wear black. It is not a subject you wish to touch with loved ones but it is important to do, so you can pay tribute to them in the best way possible.

“When we held her funeral, it was on a lovely sunny day with her wildlife-themed coffin, decorated with bees, lavender and flowers really reflecting her personality and passions in life. So many happy tears and memories were shared.”

“Later in the summer, our family painted stones in tribute to Heidi, and my children and I took these to some of Heidi’s favourite places including Snowdon in Wales which we visited as a family in 2023.

“After leaving the stones, a local Facebook group received over 1,500 messages from people who found the stones which they kindly shared with us.

“The hospice’s support doesn’t stop with the care they give. For instance, our family benefited from their bereavement support service, LivingGrief.

“They have also helped us remember Heidi through the charity’s memory tree, as well as Suffolk Remembers and the Midnight Walk – which we loved attending to remember Heidi and support the hospice too.”

“St Elizabeth Hospice is a real community organisation which touches the lives of so many local people and I will always be grateful their support.

“This is why I am determined to give back to the charity any way I can. At the start of 2025, I set myself the target of raising £12,000 by donating all my sales commission, during the year, via my job at Furniture Village, to Heidi’s Much Loved page in aid of the hospice.

“Within six months I am so pleased to have already raised overy £18,000. My Furniture Village colleagues are amazing too, they have been so supportive to me over the last few years and to mark Heidi’s first anniversary all the team donated their commission from the weekend (19 – 20 July) to St Elizabeth Hospice – raising an incredible £1,200 across the two days, while also receiving kind donations from customers on top of this too.

“It really is incredible and I am so pleased to raise this brilliant amount for the hospice. I can never thank them enough for the care they gave my family and I hope the funds we have raised will ensure others can benefit from their vital services as well.”