Alexander's Story

Helen Creed and her son Isaac, from Stanford-Le-Hope, have been growing a sunflower field for St. Luke's Hospice for the past four years, in memory of her husband and Isaac's dad, Alexander. Alex died in April 2020, following a brain tumour diagnosis three years earlier and was supported by the Hospice.

Helen shares what sunflowers means to her, and why she continues to support the Hospice.

"Alex was always so determined and positive. He really had such an infectious enthusiasm for life. Even when he became unwell, he was amazing, he still got up and carried on until he really couldn't anymore.

It all started when Alex had a seizure at home. He was airlifted to hospital and soon after we were told he had a brain tumour, and it was incurable. It was difficult to process and even harder to explain to our son Isaac, who was only 9 at the time. Alex had treatment to try and give us more time, but he became even more unwell in October 2019, and there wasn't much more that could be done.

At that point we decided to stop treatment so Alex could enjoy the time he had left with his family. We went home and tried to adjust, but it was difficult caring for Alex, our family and all the while I was still working at our farm.

A friend suggested I call St. Luke's Hospice, and within days they came to set up a bed for Alex downstairs and started to provide care and support in our home, which they did right up until he died. Even in lockdown, at the height of COVID, they were there to help.

When Alex died, we knew we wanted to do something in his memory and raise money for the Hospice. We didn't want Alex's death to only be about sadness. We wanted to remember all the good times we had together. Planting the sunflower field was the perfect way for us to cherish those moments.

The sunflower reminds us of Alex's unwavering positivity. It represents the countless happy memories we shared together and the light he brought to our family, even in the hardest of times.

For us, the sunflower also reflects all the amazing people at the Hospice who came to Alex, and all of us, in his time of need. All the nurses who came in with a happy, positive smiles, even when we were at our lowest.

I remember one of the nurses, seeing my exhaustion, told me to go and get some rest, reassuring me that she would be by Alex's side and that nothing would happen that I didn't know about. It helped take some of the pressure off and that kind, positive attitude is what I will always remember most about the Hospice.

It's often said that in a way, farming is one of the easiest jobs particularly when times are tough. You have to get up and carry on no matter what life throws at you. You still have to go out to the fields, the seasons change and things always need doing.

Growing the sunflowers has been a really a positive thing for all of us to do as a family and I'm so pleased we can raise money for St. Luke's Hospice too. They really did come to us at our time of need. It is also a lovely experience for the community and the farm. We see so many people, some who come back year after year, some who are new to the experience. It is lovely to see families out in the sunshine together, often with many generations of the same family together.

Alex has taught us so much and our experience shows how important it is to lead life as best as you can and to always be thankful, because no one knows what tomorrow will bring." - Helen, Alexanders Wife.

↩️ Return to our Sunflower Appeal Page.