This Light Up a Life, Andy remembers Sarah
Rotherham Hospice Patient Stories
Sarah was many things: a devoted mum, a loving wife, a daughter, sister, auntie and loyal friend. Above all, she was someone who embraced life wholeheartedly.
Whether she was travelling with her family, cheering on her children from the sidelines, running with friends, attending festivals or exploring the countryside, Sarah believed in making the most of every moment. Family was at the centre of everything she did, and she wanted those she loved to experience everything life had to offer.
A Love Story Built on Adventure
Sarah and Andy met at Sheffield Hallam University when Sarah showed him around during his interview. It marked the beginning of a relationship that would span more than two decades and create a lifetime of memories.
Together they travelled the world, sharing a love of adventure. Australia became especially significant. It was there, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, that Andy asked Sarah to marry him. She said yes.
Although wedding plans often took a back seat to holidays and adventures, their relationship was built on love, friendship and unwavering commitment.
Together they raised Jack and Kate, creating a family life filled with laughter, experiences and unforgettable memories. As a mum, Sarah was devoted. Whether it was swimming, music lessons, Scouts, Sea Cadets, karate or horse riding, she encouraged her children to try everything.
She wasn’t just their mum, she was their friend.
Finding Comfort at the Hospice
After initially recovering from breast cancer, she became unwell in late 2025 and was diagnosed with secondary cancer in her liver and bones. She was transferred to Rotherham Hospice in December when it became clear she was too unwell for further treatment.
For Andy, Jack and Kate, it was an incredibly difficult time. Yet almost immediately, they found comfort. The hospice became a place of warmth, kindness and support. While the team cared for Sarah with compassion and dignity, they also cared for those closest to her. That support allowed the family to focus on what mattered most: spending precious time together.
They watched favourite television programmes, played board games, chatted, laughed and simply enjoyed each other’s company.
And more than twenty years after that proposal on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, the hospice team helped Sarah and Andy finally get married. With just Sarah, Andy, Jack and Kate present, it was exactly as they wanted it to be: simple, intimate and full of love.
It meant that, for the first time, Andy could give Sarah a Christmas card addressed to his wife instead of his fiancée.
“Arriving at the hospice was like getting a great big hug”
“Sarah could still join in with the kids and their special Christmas tradition, even from her hospice bed. It meant so much to all of us.”
Their Last Christmas Together
Christmas had always been special to the family. Every year brought traditions: making decorations, visiting festive light displays, spending time with loved ones and creating new memories together. Even as Sarah became increasingly unwell, those traditions continued at the hospice.
One particularly special moment came when Sarah, Jack and Kate spent time making Christmas wreaths with Janette, a Healthcare Support Worker at the hospice. Once completed, the wreath was hung on Sarah’s balcony where she could see it from her bed.
It became more than a decoration. It was a symbol of family, love and togetherness, and a reminder that special moments could still be created despite everything they were facing.
The hospice team helped make many moments like these possible through festive activities, family meals and opportunities to simply be together. Outside, the Winter Wonder Garden sparkled throughout December and quickly became woven into some of the family’s most treasured memories. Sarah loved spending time there with her family, while Jack and Kate delighted in exploring the lights and displays.
As Christmas approached, the family celebrated together at the hospice. Presents were opened, hand casts were made and loved ones gathered around Sarah’s bed.
One magical evening saw hospice staff helping Sarah outside amongst the Winter Wonder Garden lights. Wrapped up warm while Christmas music played around them, she sat with Andy, Jack and Kate surrounded by festive glow, creating one final Christmas memory together.
On Boxing Day 2025, surrounded by her family, Sarah died peacefully.
Carrying Sarah Forward
Sarah’s story did not end there. Her kindness, determination and love continue to shape the lives of those she left behind. Since her death, Andy, Jack and Kate have honoured her memory through fundraising activities and challenges in support of the hospice.
For them, these are opportunities, not only to raise funds, but to remember Sarah, talk about her and celebrate everything she stood for: kindness, family, resilience and making the most of every day.
Light up a Life is another of those opportunities. Each light shining in the darkness represents someone deeply loved and dearly missed.
For Andy, Jack and Kate, it is a chance to remember an incredible wife, mum and best friend.
“The best way to honour Sarah is to take a piece of her with us, because if we can all be just a little more Sarah, I know the world will be a much brighter, happier place.”