Chair funded in memory of Susan

Ian Jaggard's wife Susan passed away at St Barnabas House hospice at the end of 2015.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th May 2016, 13:29 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:35 BST
Ian Jaggard, Louise Cluff, Sam Bennett, Kim Smith, Hugh LowsonIan Jaggard, Louise Cluff, Sam Bennett, Kim Smith, Hugh Lowson
Ian Jaggard, Louise Cluff, Sam Bennett, Kim Smith, Hugh Lowson

Susan and Ian had not long moved to Storrington from Horsham when Susan was sadly diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in November 2014.

Susan was cared for on the St Barnabas House In-patient Unit during the last four weeks of her life, where she would have benefitted from the use of a special chair that was later loaned to the hospice.

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Ian decided that in gratitude for the wonderful care his wife received, he wanted other patients to be able to benefit from this piece of equipment in Susan’s memory.

St Barnabas House received almost £6,000 worth of donations in memory of Susan. Ian wanted the hospice to use this money to purchase the chair, which was recently delivered to the IPU.

Ward Sister Sam Bennett confirmed how useful the chair would be in helping hospice patients, both on the IPU and at the day hospice. The Innova Chair has a variety of practical features, including drop-down wings and the auto-lay flat function, allowing patients to be moved in and out of bed from the chair without the use of a hoist. Ian felt that Susan would have found this to be a much more comfortable and dignified way to be moved around. Staff gathered to welcome the arrival of the new chair and thank Ian for his contribution.

Hugh said: “Our thanks go to Ian and his friends and family for this wonderful donation that will benefit IPU and Day Hospice patients for many years to come.”

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While Susan was being cared for on the IPU, she had also been able to use the Day Hospice and really loved it. Susan was a very sporty lady and enjoyed playing golf.

Her favourite colour was pink. When the new chair arrived at the hospice, Ian brought a pink ribbon to remember Susan. He has also planted an Acer tree in her memory at their Golf Club.

As part of his 2016 golf commitments, Ian is hosting a golf event in the summer where charity funds will be raised in Susan’s memory and they will be donated to the Day Hospice.

He is supporting the hospice’s 2016 Sunflower Memory Appeal and has donated clothes and other things to our charity shops.

Ian said: “I see all of this as part of my recognition of the truly magnificent work that you do and it is just a small financial support in return.”

Visit www.stbh.org.uk