21 Dec 2022 Community

Louise creates fantastic festive memory tree in her garden

Christmas is a time for goodwill and love, one Thongsbridge resident has shown both these in abundance this festive period by creating a memory tree for people to hang baubles on to remember loved ones in her own garden. She is also raising vital funds for The Kirkwood by way of collecting donations. 

Louise Byrne sadly lost her mum Jennifer in 2018 after her fight against cancer came to an end. Louise has always been thankful to The Kirkwood for the help and support we gave to her and her family. This year she has decided to create a number of memory trees in her garden where local residents can hang baubles up in memory of a loved one whilst also collecting donations for The Kirkwood. 

Louise has already raised over £300 and believes her mum would be proud of her for what she is doing. 

On remembering how The Kirkwood cared for her mum, Louise said: "My mum was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. I was living out in Australia at the time but it was a comfort to know that The Kirkwood was caring for my mum back here in England. Mum used to come to support and therapy sessions on a Friday and she loved it. 

"When we came back to England we met a number of the staff and they were all fantastic. I have a lot of respect for what The Kirkwood does and stands for." 

In 2017 a year before Jennifer died, Louise and the rest of her family made sure her mum had a wonderful last Christmas. 

She said: "The Christmas before mum died we put lots of Christmas lights out to make it a last special time for her. We used to get notes from local children saying how amazing our Christmas lights were. So since then we have put the lights out every year." 

Jennifer died in 2018 at the age of 70, after being cared for over Christmas for five weeks on our In-Patient Unit at Dalton. Louise and her family wanted to do something special for The Kirkwood and the local community thus Christmas. 

Loise explained: "This year we wanted to say thanks to The Kirkwood because you looked after my mum. It's a hard time for people at the moment and I just wanted to give local people the chance to remember loved ones by and that is why I have created the memory tree. We turn the lights on every Christmas in memory if her as she loved the lights, my mum was a fantastic woman.

"We have had a good reaction to the idea so far, I was going to do it last year but it never happened for whatever reason so this year I thought let's go for it, so I did. People have being passing looking at the tree and hanging baubles up which has been fantastic to see." 

Everyone at The Kirkwood would like to thank Louise for her collection and for the brilliant idea of helping to bring the community together to remember loved ones at this special time.

If you want to donate to The Kirkwood then please click the link: HERE