“Our lovely Night Nurse didn’t just mind Niall, she minded all of us, and we will forever be grateful. We will never forget her, and we send her fond wishes every Daffodil Day.”

Mary Healy and her family speak of the incredible support they received from the Irish Cancer Society Night Nursing service, when her husband, Niall, was reaching the end of his life in 2020.

Niall, aged 81, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in April 2020 at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

“As a farmer, Niall lead an active, outdoor life, so when he started experiencing symptoms initially, we assumed he had sunstroke. Sadly, within days he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. He passed away just over 3 weeks after his diagnosis.

“Because of Covid restrictions, any hospital care Niall received, he wasn’t able to have his family with him. Niall was a real people person. So, anytime we had to leave him at the door of a hospital it was very tough for him and for all of us.”

Mary recalls her husband as a much-loved, good-humoured, and energetic man, who was tending to his animals just days before he noticed anything was wrong.

“He was a real joker; I remember him coming out of hospital still laughing and joking.”

The fact that Niall could be cared for at home surrounded by his loved ones brought some solace to the Healy family at an incredibly sad time.

“Niall was a Cork man, born and bred, and thanks to the Night Nursing team, he passed away peacefully in the very same room he was born in at home. This would have always been his wish.”

“What Rebecca our Night Nurse did was just phenomenal. There must be something in the DNA of these Night Nurses; she could read the family dynamic and made time for each and every one of us. We always say that she was an angel sent to us. She went above and beyond in everything she said and did for us.”

She made a very heartbreaking situation so much easier, and showed us how to care for Niall. As a result, he passed away peacefully in all of our arms, which was just beautiful.

“She didn’t just mind Niall, she minded all of us, and we will forever be grateful to our lovely Rebecca. We will never forget her, and we send her fond wishes every Daffodil Day.”