Our son, Luca, was just 21 when he came to St Raphael’s. He was diagnosed when he was only 19, and from that moment, our world changed completely.
In his final weeks, St Raphael’s gave our family somewhere comforting to be together. A place where we could continue to care for Luca, but, most importantly, have the space to simply be his family. We had a sense of calm the minute we would walk through the doors.
His friends came to visit almost every day. They gathered in the family suite, played music, told stories and laughed together. For a little while, Luca could simply be Luca – surrounded by his friends and the people he loved.
And for me, I could gently move between being his forever carer and simply being his mum. I could sit with him and have a break. We could keep his routines from home. We could relax together as a family in a way that felt almost normal.
We put photographs all over the walls, and Luca found comfort in them.
That space meant the absolute world to us.
It gave us time to talk, laugh and continue making precious memories together during an incredibly difficult time. To this day, we still feel incredibly blessed.
Remembering Luca this Christmas
This Christmas, we’re dedicating a star to Luca through Light up a Life. For us, it’s a way of remembering him and celebrating the togetherness that filled his final weeks – the music, the laughter, the stories, the photographs and the people he loved.
We know that more families like ours will come through the doors of St Raphael’s. They will need the same care, compassion, and space to be together that meant so much to us. If someone special is in your thoughts this Christmas, join us in dedicating a star and donating in their memory.
We couldn’t be more thankful for the support and care our wonderful son received when he, and we, needed it most.