Thanks to St Gemma’s, we were able to truly cherish that final week together.
Patients
Jack & Vic’s Story
“My name is Jack. It’s been a year since I lost my wonderful wife, Vic. I want to tell you our story, in the hope that something good comes of it.
On 11th April 2025, my wonderful wife, Vic, passed away at St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds.
Vic was just 32. She was kind, gentle and compassionate. She had a smile that could warm your soul. A laugh that radiated joy. I don’t know anyone as brave, or strong, or gritty.
I promised Vic I’d share her story – our story – because she showed the world that love and kindness are all that matter, and that joy is possible in even the most painful moments.
And as a friend of the Hospice, I want you to see how the amazing team there gave Vic, her friends and family the exceptional care we all needed.
Vic’s illness came completely out of the blue. She loved to exercise. Pilates, the gym, spin classes. She was training for the London Marathon too. So, when she fell and heard a crunch in her back, we thought she’d slipped a disc.
A sports doctor suggested an MRI. I was abroad when Vic called me to say they’d found some abnormalities, and I rushed home.
I’ll never forget the next morning. The phone rang off the hook, with different specialists from Leeds Cancer Centre. After more tests, Vic was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of oesophageal cancer.
The next few weeks were a blur.
Vic asked me to marry her, and we organised a wedding in six days. We wrote our own vows and I told Vic everything I loved about her – so many things – and I promised to look after her for as long as she needed. Vic wasn’t at all well, but we had a really special day.
After that, we were in and out of hospital. Vic was incredible, so overwhelmingly positive.
But it was such a stressful time. Vic was going through chemotherapy and the cancer had caused a fracture in her spine. She was in constant pain and couldn’t get comfortable.
The hospital team were brilliant. But as Vic’s illness progressed, we were getting the worst news imaginable at every turn. After 39 days, the specialists said they’d done all they could and Vic was given options for end-of-life care.
We chose St Gemma’s Hospice because we knew Vic would still get fantastic medical and nursing care, but with the space and support to gather everyone she loved around her.
From the moment we walked through the doors, a weight was lifted. It felt like the first time since Vic’s diagnosis that we’d been able to breathe.
My parents were there, and Vic’s brother and his fiancée. They’d brought all the nice champagne from our wedding and arranged some photos. It was a really special arrival.
After weeks of uncertainty, St Gemma’s gave us back control and the chance to just be together. We found peace there.
Anything we wanted, we felt like it was given by the Hospice team. They moved mountains for us. Vic got to decide, what did she want each day to look like? Who did she want to see? What conversations did she need to have?
There’s a true magic at St Gemma’s. It runs through the hallways and shines in the sun. It’s found in little conversations, glints in the eye and shared memories.
So many things have stayed with me from that week.
I remember sipping wedding wine with our loved ones. Watching Vic’s best mates and her sisters attempting to wash her hair (Vic loved her hair!). Sitting with Vic as she drank flavoured ice in the garden, with her sunglasses on and the biggest grin.
I remember Vic’s witty comebacks and the giggles we had, even when things were so hard. Most of all, I remember the time we spent together. Sharing our deepest thoughts and feelings, making promises and creating memories I’ll carry in my heart through the years ahead.
This might sound strange – and it is, in a way – but those days at the Hospice were some of the best days of my life.
We had family and friends gathered close. Vic was able to tell people she loved them, and have the important conversations everyone needed. It was so brutal, but so beautiful at the same time.
Throughout it all, the team at St Gemma’s were quietly and brilliantly caring for us. Attending to Vic’s medical needs, checking in on us, supporting everyone with gentle kindness.
I know they give the same level of care to each person that comes through their doors, and so many more in homes across Leeds.
They provide complex medical care to help ease people’s pain. They’ll cook someone’s favourite meal and plan celebrations – doing whatever they can to help make their last days feel special.
Without St Gemma’s, the last six days Vic and I had together would have looked very different.
I’ve seen in the news that many hospices are having a hard time, and I can’t bear to think of other families not being able to get the care Vic and I received.
We are so lucky to have this hospice at the heart of our community. It gave Vic and I some of the most precious moments of our lives together.
And as I’ve navigated an impossibly difficult year without her, my memories of those days at St Gemma’s are one of the things that have helped me cope. The conversations we had. The laughs we shared. Her strength and love and kindness.
It’s painful to share these moments, but I’m so proud of Vic and I want the world to know about her.
So please, remember our story. Remember Vic.
And if you can, donate to support St Gemma’s today. Whatever you can spare will help this incredible hospice, that gave my amazing wife Vic the best possible care when she needed it most.”