When Ian Sellers was told his cancer was now untreatable, he had one final wish: to spend his last days at home, surrounded by the family he loved. Thanks to Ashgate’s Palliative Care Specialist Nurses, that wish came true. 

For Ian’s daughter, Mikala, knowing her dad could be where he felt safest and most loved brought immense comfort. 

“My dad was my hero,” Mikala shares. “He was always by my side – then it was my turn to be by his.” 

A devoted family man

Ian was a hardworking, family-first kind of man. He had spent years helping the community in Barrow Hill, running kids’ clubs and lending a hand wherever he could. After working as a miner, he later became a manager at a stone company before retiring. But it was at home where he truly thrived, a dedicated husband to Ann and a much-loved dad, grandad and great-grandad. 

Even after facing several cancer diagnoses, Ian remained strong. But when his oesophageal cancer progressed, he and his family had a difficult decision to make. 

A heart-wrenching realisation

When Ian was discharged from hospital, his family wanted to care for him themselves, but soon realised they needed extra support. Reaching out for help was difficult, but it was a call that changed everything. 

“I was breaking into tiny little pieces,” Mikala admits. “I didn’t know what to do or where to turn. When we first considered hospice care, I was scared – would Ashgate be able to help? Could we really keep Dad at home?” 

The very next day, Ashgate nurse Emma arrived. “She listened to my dad and promised he would have his last wish. ‘Thank you, Emma, you’re an angel,’ Dad told her.” 

Care that made all the difference

With Ashgate’s support, Ian was able to spend his final weeks in the place he loved most. The hospice team arranged for carers to visit, helped manage his pain, and made sure Mikala and her family had someone to turn to, day or night. 

“Whenever we needed someone, they came,” Mikala says. “Emma and the team explained Dad’s medication, reassured us, and made sure we never felt alone. They cared not just for him but for us too.” 

Ian died peacefully at home in Brimington on 13th January 2022, aged 71. His family were by his side, just as he had hoped. 

Why hospice care at home matters

For Ian, being at home meant being surrounded by the people he loved – his wife, children and grandchildren. “Home was where his heart was,” Mikala says simply. “He had shared his final wishes with us, but he couldn’t talk about it in front of his granddaughters, he adored them too much.” 

Having that time together, in the comfort of their own home, gave the family memories they will always cherish. 

A message to others

Some families hesitate to reach out for hospice support, unsure what to expect. Mikala understands that fear, but urges others not to wait. 

“I was scared to ask for help, but Ashgate made the biggest difference. They don’t just care for the person who’s dying, they care for the whole family. You don’t have to do it alone.” 

A vital service – but funding is a challenge

Mikala was shocked to learn that less than a third of Ashgate’s funding comes from local NHS budgets, with the hospice needing to raise £11 million each year just to keep providing care. 

“You should be financially supported all the way,” she says. “The nurses come out in all weathers, supporting families like mine. Even after my dad died, their support continued. People need to know how much they do.” 

For Mikala, Ashgate’s support was life-changing. And for her dad, it meant the world. “Thanks to them, he got his final wish, and that’s something we’ll always be grateful for.”