10 Apr 2025 Community

A PLACE OF PEACE: NASSER’S STORY OF LOVE, FAITH AND THE KIRKWOOD

When Nasser Navsarka’s wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer, their world changed forever. Faced with difficult decisions, they chose The Kirkwood, a place they had known little about. What they found was not only expert care, but deep compassion, cultural understanding and peace. This is Nasser’s story of love, faith, and the difference The Kirkwood made in their lives.

When Nasser Navsarka’s wife was told that her cancer had returned and there was nothing more doctors could do, he and his family were faced with an impossible choice. They could keep her in hospital, bring her home, or consider a place they knew very little about, The Kirkwood.

“At first, most of our family thought home was best, we just didn’t understand what The Kirkwood really was,” Nasser says. “But my wife made her own decision. She rang me and said, ‘I’m going to The Kirkwood, it’s my decision.’ And the moment she arrived, she called me again and said, ‘This is the best decision I’ve ever made.’”

What Nasser’s wife found with The Kirkwood was far from what she and her family had imagined a hospice to be.

“It wasn’t what we expected at all. It was peaceful, it was calming. She said it felt like a holiday resort, not a hospital. The atmosphere, the staff, the garden, everything was beautiful. It didn’t feel like a place where people come to die. It felt like a place where people come to be cared for with dignity.”

Nasser, who lives in Batley and works as a Print Manager at Kirklees College in Dewsbury, was by his wife’s side throughout her six-week stay with The Kirkwood. She had faced three separate cancer diagnoses in just a few years, bowel cancer during lockdown, then ovarian cancer, followed by further complications that prevented her from receiving surgery. Despite undergoing numerous rounds of chemotherapy and several major operations, her strength never wavered.

“My wife was incredibly strong, mentally and physically. She always dealt with things head-on. Even when the cancer came back, she remained calm. When we arrived at The Kirkwood's In-Patient Unit, for the first two weeks, it was like she had recovered. She walked around the gardens, enjoyed the sunshine, and spoke with staff. It was like a breath of fresh air, for both of us. I was finally able to rest.”

What struck Nasser and his family the most wasn’t just the medical support. It was the deeply personal and culturally sensitive care that surrounded them.

“As a Muslim, I was genuinely moved by how much thought had been put into our faith. From the moment we arrived, the staff had already set up a private room with a prayer mat, and a space for us to observe our religious practices. We were never made to feel different. If anything, our faith was respected in every possible way.

“Me and my wife prayed five times a day, and even if a nurse came in during prayer, they would quietly step out and wait. One nurse even gently reminded us it was time to pray, that kind of awareness and respect goes beyond just care. It made us feel seen, heard, and valued.”

As his wife’s condition worsened, The Kirkwood made sure Nasser could stay close. He was offered a bed in her room, meals throughout the day, and the chance for their daughters to stay over and spend precious time with their mum.

“I’ve experienced care in hospitals, and I’ve cared for my father at home and I can say without any doubt that the standard of care with The Kirkwood is on another level. From the doctors and nurses to the cleaners and volunteers, every person treated us with genuine compassion. They cared for her like family, and they supported me like a brother.”

On 3rd June 2024 the very same day that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, visited The Kirkwood, Nasser’s wife died peacefully, with him by her side. What followed was a testament to the hospice’s respect for faith and family.

“When my wife passed away, the staff were there not just professionally, but emotionally. They cried with us. They helped with all the Islamic funeral arrangements, and they ensured all the paperwork was completed within hours so we could bury her the next day, as is our tradition. They even helped lift her into the coffin with great care and respect. I can’t describe what that meant to us.”

The Duchess, who spent time listening to Nasser and meeting his family during her visit, later returned with presents for his daughters. “That meant so much to us,” he says. “It speaks volumes about the kind of place The Kirkwood is.”

Today, Nasser remains a passionate advocate for The Kirkwood, especially within his own community.

“To anyone from the Asian or Muslim community, don’t be afraid of the word ‘hospice.’ I used to think it was just a place for elderly people, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Kirkwood is a place of peace, dignity and love where your culture and faith are fully respected, and where your family is truly looked after." 

Nasser continues to support The Kirkwood with regular donations, particularly during Ramadan, and speaks openly about the need to raise awareness across Asian communities. He’s also deeply concerned about the lack of government funding for vital hospice services.

“Places like The Kirkwood shouldn't have to struggle for funding. Every donation, every bit of awareness we can raise, helps another family like mine find peace in the hardest time of their life.”

For Nasser and his daughters, The Kirkwood was more than just a hospice it was a place where memories were made, where love was honoured, and where faith was deeply respected.

“This place gave us time, care, and dignity when we needed it most. And that’s something I’ll never forget.”

If you'd like to help us support more families like Nasser's then please make a regular monthly donation by clicking the link HERE. Every donation goes a long way to helping us care for more people with life limiting illnesses.