To have and to hold...
Sister’s touching act allows loving couple of 62 years to say final goodbye
A DEVOTED Ashbourne couple married for 62 years were able to say a precious final goodbye with the help of a compassionate hospital sister.
John Wilson, 92, was given the heartbreaking news at the end of May he had terminal cancer, at the same time as his beloved wife Marjorie, 88, was also being cared for at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.
After hearing that Mrs Wilson was set to be discharged back to her nursing home and knowing they may never get the chance to see each other again, sister Emma Barker quickly arranged for her and her husband’s beds to be pulled together on Ward 8, so they could say goodbye one final time.
Thanks to her team’s actions, Mr and Mrs Wilson were able to sit beside each other on their own holding hands for around 10 minutes, with the sister then showing enormous compassion by taking a precious picture of the Ashbourne couple together for the family to have, should they want it.
Sadly, it would turn out to be their last photo together, as Mr Wilson died at home on June 15.
In a letter to the hospital, their son Kurt thanked the team for taking the beautiful photo and ensuring his dad was able to “die how he wanted to, peacefully and in my arms”.
He said: “I’d like to say a special thank you to sister Emma, who had the foresight to take a photo of mum and dad together for the last time.
“Again, words are not enough to express my gratitude to you all.”
Ward 6 sister Emma, who was working on Ward 8 at the time, insisted the decision to ensure the family had this priceless lasting memory was one she made spontaneously but admitted it had a big impact on the entire team.
She said: “I can’t imagine what it’s like to be married to someone for more than 60 years and know that you’re never going to see them again.
“The picture had everyone crying when they saw it – it was very emotional and powerful.
“To hear how happy the family were after receiving this picture has really impacted us all and the letter that they sent was so lovely. “The whole reason you become a nurse is to care for people and to have moments like this.
“To now know Mr Wilson’s son will have not only this photo, but also the knowledge that his father saw his mother for a final time, will remain a significant memory for me.
“I like to treat all patients as if they were my family and I know that I would be extremely humbled knowing someone had done that for a relative of mine.”