‘Listening ear was an absolute lifeline’
After Donna Jope’s husband died, it was the kindness of a stranger that helped her heal, giving her a new perspective ready to face Christmas
As we approach the festive season, it’s normal for memories of Christmases past to come flooding back to our minds. But for all that this can be a lovely moment of nostalgia for many, it can also be bittersweet as we may think back to those who are no longer with us this Christmastime.
For Donna, she loves to think back to her memories of her many happy Christmases spent with husband Michael, heading off to Midnight Mass most years, followed by tea and a sneaky turkey sandwich enjoyed in the early hours of Christmas morning.
However, since Michael died from liver and lung cancer in September 2019, Christmas – along with other landmark moments in the year such as birthdays and anniversaries – have been hard for Donna to face.
This year, though, feels different as Donna has benefited from Marie Curie’s bereavement support service and is now feeling much more hopeful about the Christmases to come.
Donna first came across Marie Curie’s bereavement service, which offers six weeks of one-to-one support, when she went to her GP, having found herself overwhelmed with grief at Michael’s death.
“Each day I was having a cry and then after crying for a number of days I decided to phone the doctor,” says Donna. “I explained the grief that I felt and he offered to put me in touch with Marie Curie’s bereavement service.”
Having been matched with one of Marie Curie’s bereavement service volunteers called Nicola, Donna received her first call in April this year. “I felt a bit nervous beforehand
‘Each day I was having a cry and then after crying for a number of days I decided to phone the doctor’