Who is your heart for?
We are speaking to our local community to find out who they dedicated a heart to for the Hearts for Doncaster monument.
Read more about the stories behind some of the hearts already donated to the Hearts for Doncaster appeal.
My heart is for Grandy
“Grandy For your dedication & hard work With love ECSEJN-BNSPKE”
Nicola Place bought a heart in recognition of her mother Mandy, for her selflessness and hard work during the pandemic. She bought another for her partner’s aunt and cousins, who showed incredible dedication and bravery as they supported the care system.
Mandy, who is affectionately known as ‘grandy’, a combination of her name and ‘grandma’, lived on her own as she worked as a HCA throughout the pandemic, daughter Nicola explained. She wasn’t in a bubble and as such and was unable to help her other daughter through her pregnancy.
“She was so brave and thoughtful and didn’t think about anything else. We didn’t see her for months so she had to rely on herself.” said Nicola.
She went on: “She would always say ‘those people need me’. She’ll give anything for them. I wanted to commend her for being so brave and give her something she’ll have forever.”
Looking at a picture of Grandy in her PPE, Nicola’s sister said: “This just makes me want to cry!”
“She sacrificed so much to care for others. She was born to care, she has such a loving soul. Bless her.”
Nicola’s second heart was dedicated to her partner’s family. The Greaves family, comprised of Karen, Jenna, Linzi and Camron, all work in care and nursing and did so throughout the height of the pandemic.
In order to keep all her residents safe, Karen, who is a nursing home manager, chose to move in to the home full-time, alongside her granddaughter who was just 13. Eventually, Karen, Linzi and Camron all moved in.
“They are the hardest workers you’ll ever know,” Nicola explained.
“I bought the heart to commend them for being so thoughtful and selfless. It was an amazing thing they did. They never think about themselves.”
You too can dedicate a heart for just £20 either in memory of your loved one or to say than you to someone who has gone above and beyond for you throughout the pandemic.
The funds raised through Hearts for Doncaster will be directly reinvested into patient care, treatment, and facilities across the Trust.
To purchase a heart, follow this link.
My heart is for the staff of ICU and Wards 20/21
“Thank you to all staff on ICU & Wards 20/21 for saving my husband’s life”
Helen Reasbeck bought a heart in recognition of the hard work and incredible support she and her husband received after he caught COVID-19 and spent seven weeks at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI).
It was nearly a year ago now that Helen’s partner caught COVID-19 and spent a total of seven weeks at DRI, during which he visited the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) three times. As well as developing pneumonia, this was a very challenging time for the pair.
“My husband was determined he was going to beat it. He stayed as upbeat as he could.” Helen recalls.
But during such an uncertain time, Helen felt she could always rely on the teams working on keeping her husband safe and alive.
She said: “They were amazing. ICU said you could ring whenever you wanted, even in the middle of the night if I was worried.
“I couldn’t see him or speak to him because he was on a CPAP (breathing apparatus) so if I felt I couldn’t sleep I could ring up and they answered and reassured me.”
Once Helen’s husband improved he was moved to wards 20 and 21, the respiratory wards, where he was taken very good care of, Helen explained.
The efforts by the ICU team and Ward 20 and 21 staff will forever be appreciated. In particular, Helen would like to thank Sian Haddrick and Sarah (Sister on ward) from the ICU and Aisha Khalil-Ibrahim, a respiratory nurse on Ward 21, for their personal efforts in supporting her husband.
You too can dedicate a heart for just £20 either in memory of your loved one or to say thank you to someone who has gone above and beyond for you throughout the pandemic.
The funds raised through Hearts for Doncaster will be directly reinvested into patient care, treatment, and facilities across the Trust.
To purchase a heart, follow this link.
My heart is for David
“In memory of our Dad & Grandad Forever in our hearts Ian, Karen & Lana xxx“
Karen Cahill, who works in accounts at Doncaster College, bought a heart in memory of her father, David Plummer, who sadly passed away on 7 November 2020 after getting coronavirus.
It was David’s golden wedding anniversary during his time at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and thankfully his wife was able to speak to him over the phone.
Karen said: “We were quite lucky that we got access to say goodbye. In his last hours we were able to sit with him on the ward.”
Both in memory of her father, and as a thank you to the hospital staff who allowed them to share his final moments together, Karen and her family purchased several hearts.
They also had his name printed on a lifeboat to commemorate his life and interest in the area.
“The staff couldn’t have done enough. A lot of people have been affected by the pandemic, so buying a heart is an extra thing to say thank you.”
You too can dedicate a heart for just £20 either in memory of your loved one or to say thank you to someone who has gone above and beyond for you throughout the pandemic.
The funds raised through Hearts for Doncaster will be directly reinvested into patient care, treatment, and facilities across the Trust.
To purchase a heart, follow this link.
My heart is for Josh
“Forever in our hearts (Our Josh) Love always Your family x”
Amanda Stocks, a receptionist in the Gynaecology Department of Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), bought a heart in memory of her nephew, Josh Hall, who tragically died as a result of suicide.
She said: “He was one of the kindest, sweetest people you could ever meet. Everyone loved Josh.”
She went on: “He will never be forgotten, not just by family but by any of the people whose lives he touched.”
“I think having this heart permanently on the monument means that he will always be remembered.”
Since his passing, Amanda has become passionate about speaking out and helping others like Josh avoid the same situation.
“It might help other young men going forward to speak to their families. Mental health matters.” she said.
The Trust wants to give a big thank you to Amanda and her family for their openness on this sensitive subject and for raising awareness surrounding male suicide.
Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK, according to Office for National Statistics. In 2016, the charity ‘Andy’s Man Club’ was founded, now with over 55 talking groups located around the country for men to attend.
There are 25 groups in Yorkshire & The Humber alone, including Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Pontefract and soon in Barnsley.
To join, follow this link (https://andysmanclub.co.uk/club-information/clubs/) and find the location of your nearest group.
If you or someone you know is in urgent need, contact The Samaritans for free, any time, from any phone on 116 123.
You too can dedicate a heart for just £20 either in memory of your loved one or to say thank you to someone who has gone above and beyond for you throughout the pandemic.
The funds raised through Hearts for Doncaster will be directly reinvested into patient care, treatment, and facilities across the Trust.
To purchase a heart, follow this link.
My heart is for Walter
“Walter Sherburn. Loving Dad and Grandad. In our hearts forever”
Nicki Sherburn, who is Head of Nursing in the Surgery and Cancer Services Division at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), bought a heart in memory of her Father-in-law.
Walter Sherburn, who sadly passed away on 16 November 2020 after getting covid, was an amazing Father, Grandfather and Father-in-law who lived only for his family, said Nicki.
She went on: “For 27 years he was a huge positive and much-loved part of my life.”
Due to covid restrictions, the family were unable to have a funeral. In buying a heart, they believe it acts as closure and something to mark Walter’s life in the absence of a funeral. It is also a contribution to Doncaster’s history, Nicki explained.
“It would be great if in 100 years’ time someone in my family stands there looking at the monument and says ‘look, we’ve got a Sherburn there’” she said.
“It’s a massive part of our history.”
She went on: “This is us coming together to show what we’ve lost, what we’ve done and how we’ve come through it.”
You too can dedicate a heart for just £20 either in memory of your loved one or to say thank you to someone who has gone above and beyond for you throughout the pandemic.
The funds raised through Hearts for Doncaster will be directly reinvested into patient care, treatment, and facilities across the Trust.
To purchase a heart, follow this link.