An inseparable couple, loving parents and doting grandparents, Doris and Gerald Gould were married for 54 years. City Hospice provided specialist palliative care to the much-loved couple until they passed away within eight days of each other in January 2018.
Family was the centre of Doris and Gerald Gould’s world. They loved nothing more than spending time with their family. In February 2000, they became grandparents to twins Ben and Ellie. The pair relished their role as grandparents, spoiling the twins rotten and finding fun activities to do with them.
Doris and Gerald were transferred to the care of City Hospice in August 2015 following their respective diagnoses of amyloidosis, an incurable buildup of the amyloid protein which affects the heart, kidneys, liver and spleen, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Their daughter Karen said: “When Mum and Dad were referred to City Hospice, we quickly established a good relationship with their nurse Allen. Dad in particular looked forward to his visits very much. As a family, we will forever be grateful for his kindness, honesty and the care he gave my parents.
“People always ask how Steve, Ben, Ellie and I coped through Mum and Dad’s illnesses and after. We took comfort in the fact that community palliative care means that people like my parents can be supported at home as they approach the end of their lives. The word hospice can be frightening but, to me, it also gives hope.”
Since Doris and Gerald’s deaths, Karen and her family have been determined to give something back to the charity to say thank you for the care they received. The family donated £500 to City Hospice thanks to the generosity of people in attendance at Doris and Gerald’s joint funeral, each year they donate a day of nursing care in their memory and Ben recently challenged himself by running the Cardiff Half Marathon as part of the charity’s team.
Karen said: “Mum and Dad have missed out on so much, but I know they would be so proud of everything their grandchildren have achieved. As a family, we will continue to do all we can to help keep City Hospice caring for Cardiff, whether that’s fundraising or through our work.
“I joined the City Hospice team in September as a clinical administrator. I now work with Mum and Dad’s wonderful nurse Allen, doing a job I love and making a difference to families like mine across the city.”
A donation made during the Light up a Life appeal will make a world of difference to a family facing terminal illness in the community. To donate, visit https://www.cityhospice.org.uk/star-in-the-sky/ or call 02920 524 150.
