A loving husband and father with a cheeky sense of humour and a sweet smile, Lee Kirkman was a kind and generous man. City Hospice provided Lee with specialist palliative care and counselling in the final few months of his life before he passed away very peacefully at Tŷ Llandaff care home in December 2023, as well as counselling support for his wife and daughter.
Lee loved to work; it was one of his passions. He began his career in the gas industry as an apprentice aged 16 and became very knowledgeable about his trade during his nearly 40 years as a gas engineer. Outside of work, his passions ranged from watching his favourite football team Manchester United to walking his dog Billy, even taking his canine companion for rides on the front of his electric bike.
Prior to his illness which began during the Easter bank holiday weekend of 2022, Lee had experienced no symptoms or signs that anything was amiss.
His wife Lucy said: “My family from Australia were visiting and we were taking them on a day trip to Barry Island. While Lee was driving, he went really quiet and began taking the wrong route before suddenly having a huge seizure. Luckily, my brother-in-law was able to take control and stop the car so we, and some really kind members of the community, could help Lee at the roadside as we waited for the ambulance to arrive.”
Scans at the hospital showed a mass on Lee’s brain which was originally thought to be a low grade tumour. Lee had surgery in May followed by six weeks of daily radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Biopsy results sadly revealed that Lee’s tumour was a glioblastoma and he underwent further chemotherapy treatment.
Lucy said: “Our world was turned upside down. We were devastated but our friends and neighbours rallied around to support us. Our daughter was incredibly brave and supported Lee throughout his illness, even helping to shave his head when his hair began to fall out.
“Lee was a true warrior. He never once complained or felt sorry for himself. He was devastated that he was no longer able to work but he threw himself into volunteering to give something back. He used his woodworking skills to help Down to Earth to build a roundhouse for the new Velindre hospital, helped the Brain Tumour Charity to develop its BRIAN app and took part in a glioma trial with Cardiff University to help future brain tumour patients.”
Determined to make the most of their time with Lee, the family enjoyed cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and Scandinavia in the summers of 2022 and 2023 respectively before his condition progressed and he was transferred to City Hospice’s care in September 2023.
Lucy said: “We had heard of City Hospice before, but palliative care took on a different meaning when they stepped in. There’s so much more to it than we originally thought. We weren’t previously aware of the counselling services which we found really beneficial. It was so helpful to talk to someone who knew what we were going through.
“All of the hospice team were so great. Lee’s nurses Lori and Louise were amazing, I built up a great connection with my counsellor Isha and little things like Jane the receptionist making a cup of tea when I visited the hospice for counselling just made such a difference at a tough time.”
To thank City Hospice for the care and support they received, but also help the charity continue to provide such services for other patients and their families, Lucy and a team of 14 friends and neighbours took part in the Sparkle Walk earlier this year and raised almost £2,000.
Following the Sparkle Walk, Lucy decided to continue to shine a light on Lee’s life and City Hospice’s role in their lives by sharing her story in support of the charity’s Light up a Life appeal ahead of Christmas.
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.
