David’s Story – supported by Phyllis Tuckwell

Phyllis Tuckwell’s chaplain helped Emma and her fiancé Neil to organise a wedding blessing so that David could be part of the celebrations.

As well as providing medical, nursing and therapeutic care, Phyllis Tuckwell also support patients and their families emotionally and spiritually. They understand that sometimes the most important things are the special moments we share with our loved ones, and that being a part of occasions such as weddings, baptisms and birthday celebrations can mean so much to the whole family.

The Home Support team visits patients at home, to find out if they need any additional help with anything. Nicola, who is a Home Support coordinator, has been visiting David, a patient who is being cared for at home by Phyllis Tuckwell’s Living Well team. David’s daughter Emma will be getting married to her fiancé Neil in November, but the family are unsure of how David will be by that stage.

Nicola discussed with David, Emma and Neil the possibility of having a small service at home, before the wedding, to make sure that David was able to be part of the celebrations. As they were keen to do this, Nicola spoke to Jill, the Lead Chaplain, who spoke to Emma over the phone to make plans for the event.

They arranged to have a wedding blessing at David’s home in September, two months before Emma and Neil’s wedding day. Jill helped them to plan the service and led a blessing based on the idea of a Handfasting ceremony, an ancient Celtic ritual where the betrotheds’ hands are tied together with ribbon or cord, symbolising their unity. Emma and Neil used three threads, two white threads to show the love and support that their two families had for them and for their marriage, and one red thread to show their love for each other. Both Emma’s and Neil’s parents were there, and Emma’s sister, Tracey, did a reading.

“It was such a lovely moment, and so precious for us to have and to be able to cherish,” said Emma. “It was absolutely perfect – all of the family have said just how special it was. I can’t thank Jill and the Phyllis Tuckwell team enough for giving us that moment for Dad to be able to share and be a part of with us. We couldn’t have done it without Jill’s help and input. We felt very alone before Dad was referred to Phyllis Tuckwell, but the support they have given us has been amazing and has really helped us all as a family.”