The sudden death of a loved one can have a profound impact on the lives of those around them. Read Sue & Toby’s Story to find out how they were supported by KEMP Hospice.
The sudden death of a loved one can have a profound impact on the lives of those around them. When Sue’s husband Ian died suddenly in an accident in 2016, she not only had her own grief to come to terms with, but she also had her 7-year-old son Toby to care for. To help support them through this difficult period, Sue made a referral to KEMP Hospice for counselling sessions with our Family Support & Bereavement Service.
Initially Sue hadn’t realised that KEMP services were available to anyone within the Wyre Forest. As is commonly believed, she thought you had to have a family member who used KEMP Day Hospice services to be eligible. Sue explains “I didn’t have an existing connection to KEMP so wasn’t particularly familiar with the services available. However, in the initial few weeks following Ian’s death, I was given several leaflets and brochures from both the doctor and the funeral directors and within them was a leaflet for KEMP. It was from this that I made a referral for both Toby and I for counselling sessions”
Speaking with a KEMP Counsellor
After making the initial referral and following an assessment with the team, Sue and Toby were each invited to meet a KEMP counsellor. Sue continued “I initially had 3 sessions with my counsellor. After the third session the counsellor I was meeting left KEMP, and though I was offered sessions with another counsellor, I felt ok at that time and in a position that I didn’t feel I needed to continue. My son Toby however was finding his sessions with his child bereavement counsellor at KEMP extremely helpful. I couldn’t recommend the service highly enough. Toby was at Primary School at the time, so his counsellor used to visit his school once a week to meet him. She was giving him the tools and techniques to help him cope with losing his dad, which he could also continue to use as time moved on”
The following year, Sue and Toby took part in a weekend camp for bereaved children organised and facilitated by the KEMP team. “The weekend was a great experience for Toby as it allowed him to mix with other children who had also experienced a bereavement at such a young age. It gave him a chance to speak to his counsellor and other children about things he might not have felt able to talk about to me”.
Continuing Support when it’s Needed
A couple of years later, after Toby’s initial counselling sessions had finished, he started to go through a difficult time, so sue contacted KEMP once again. “It was a particularly difficult time for Toby for various reasons, so to know that we could contact KEMP and he had someone there to support him was such a relief. To have that continuity during this period was so helpful and his counsellor came out to visit him once again”.
Speaking about her experiences with KEMP, Sue is keen to recommend it to others who may need help or counselling following a bereavement. “KEMP has been such a support to Toby and me. I would highly recommend their counselling services and tell anyone in a similar situation to seek help and support”
How Sue is Helping KEMP
Sue has gone on to be quite an ambassador for KEMP Hospice, taking part in several fundraising events, including walks in the Wyre Forest, dog walks and has also attended a memorial service at the Hospice. Sue is also a member of the Rock Choir and performed recently at KEMP’s first ever Butterfly Memory Walk. “I like to do what I can to help raise awareness and fundraise for KEMP Hospice. They have been such a support to us that it’s my small way of giving back and thanking them for everything they’ve done for us.”