On his 70th birthday Tracey’s father, Colin Robinson, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Although over the following two and a half years Colin tried different treatments to control his illness, it gradually spread to his bones. Colin first came to Myton for 2 weeks of respite care at Warwick Myton Hospice. During this time the medical team were able to successfully manage his pain relief and ease his discomfort.
When Colin returned home after his stay, he told Tracey that when the time came he wanted to die at Myton. Shortly after returning home, Colin’s health declined and he returned to Myton a few days before Christmas.
Colin had 6 grandchildren and 3 daughters all of whom wanted to spend Christmas day with him.
To help fulfil their wishes, the Myton nurses told Colin’s family that Santa Claus would have to come to Myton to see the children this year. The family were encouraged to take the Day Room and transform it into their front room for the children for Christmas Day.
That evening, the children wrote an email to Santa to explain they would be spending Christmas at Myton this year. Before leaving on Christmas Eve, the children sprinkled Reindeer food on the lawn in the hospice grounds and left a carrot and a mince pie for Santa’s arrival.
Colin’s family then brought all the children’s presents from their house to the hospice ready for Christmas morning.
When asked how she would describe Myton, Tracey Milner said,
You don’t die at Myton, you live until the end at Myton.
Arriving at 9am the next day all sporting their matching Christmas jumpers, Colin and his family opened their presents, including those given to them by Myton.
Colin sadly died at 11.30am on Christmas Day at Warwick Myton Hospice surrounded by his family. Because Colin’s family felt so comfortable at Myton, they decided to stay and have Christmas dinner there.
When asked to describe Christmas day at Myton, Tracey said,
Christmas day was just amazing. It was the hardest day of my life but I love that it was at Myton. I don’t think he could have had a happier death. He was still like my Dad here.
Tracey never expected to spend Christmas at a hospice, but on this particular Christmas Day Tracey and her family wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.
Motivated by their experience at Myton, Colin’s family have raised over £9,100 so far for the hospices.
Could you help support The Myton Hospices to ensure we can continue to deliver our care free of charge?
£30
is the daily upkeep cost of our relatives accommodation
£56
could fund two hours of specialist nursing care
£90
could fund three children's counselling sessions
£112
covers the cost of a patient's meal for one week