“You can't put a price on what Marie Curie did for me and my dad”

My father was 74 when he developed bowel cancer. Luckily, he was treated quickly and it was nipped in the bud. But it eventually returned when Dad was 95, and he deteriorated quickly when it did. He was admitted to hospital, and they called me and said he had a two-week prognosis and that they were discharging him. He was at the hospital reception at 7pm in a wheelchair in his pyjamas. He had no teeth in his mouth because they'd lost his false teeth.

My mum died when I was 11. Technically, he was my mum and dad, and he was an amazing father. That's why, when he was discharged from hospital I told him: "Dad, you're not going in a care home. You're coming to me and I'm going to look after you." And that's what I did.

But at home I had nothing. I didn't even have a hospital bed at that time. I was exhausted. I'd had a hysterectomy the previous year and was still having a few problems. Meanwhile, Dad was struggling to eat and too ill and frail to walk. A few weeks after he was discharged, the GP suggested that Marie Curie step in to support us.

Initially, I thought, 'Marie Curie? I don't need them.' But the GP said: "Yes, you do because you can't do this alone."

He told me Dad wasn't going to get better and needed proper care, and that I couldn't keep going on like this.

Within 24 hours Marie Curie were in. It was a huge relief. The nurse walked in, asked a few questions about Dad, and then said to me: "Look, I'm here, so you can go and rest. That's the purpose of me being here, so that you can sleep tonight and you can get through tomorrow."

She was amazing. She had all the contact numbers for the district nurses and the GP. It was like I suddenly had a permanent support unit. I relied on them so much. I needed them. I couldn't have done it otherwise.

Marie Curie explained everything that was going on with him to me: the end of life, and that everything happening to him was actually normal. They also got increased pain relief for my dad because he was experiencing severe agitation. He'd sleep a lot, then he'd be alert and awake, and I couldn't understand why.

It was scary to see, but the fact that Marie Curie took the time to explain what was happening really helped.

Marie Curie Nurses were angels. I couldn't have done it without them and I don't know how people cope.

Gradually, Dad started to become unresponsive. He couldn't swallow and his eyes were permanently closed.

Thankfully, Marie Curie Nurses alerted the district nurses that Dad might be in pain. It took a while, but eventually a nurse from St Margaret's Hospice came to relieve his pain. That was 3am on the Friday and he passed away at 5.30pm that evening, a day after his 96th birthday.

He was peaceful in the end, and I was holding his hand right to his last breath. Then, I went in to panic and phoned up Marie Curie and I said: "He's died." And they were lovely and said: "Okay, okay that's fine. You know he was peaceful. He was cared for. You were there. There's no rush, you can just stay with Dad."

After Dad died, my family decided to have a change of scenery and move down to Cornwall. He left me a bit of money, so we bought our house outright with no mortgage. I decided when the last one of us dies, that proceeds for the house would be divided up and Marie Curie would get half.

You can't put a price on what Marie Curie did for me and my dad. They came in at such a bad time in my life, picked up the pieces within hours and remained there throughout, right to the end. No amount of money can show my full gratitude. I consider myself really lucky and the gift in my Will is me wanting to pay Marie Curie back. My father would have wanted me to do it as well.

So, when I die, if I can leave something that will help Marie Curie in their work, then why would I not? I know what they did for me, and I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to continue that end of life path on my own.

All rights reserved. Contact stories@mariecurie.org.uk for more information.