Zoe's Story
My Dad, Alan Bliss, aged 70, was taken ill with stomach pains and bloating in August 2023. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which was a secondary cancer and in which they never found the primary. He was in the LRI for 4 weeks, but they were struggling to keep his pain under control and was sent to LOROS where they managed to control his pain and anxiety. But unknown to us, that would be his final week in the most amazing place. We couldn't have asked for more. He died on the 15th Sept 2023, 5 weeks 2 days after being diagnosed.
Dad was a painter and decorator and even painted the LOROS building when it first opened. He had a great sense of humour and was loved by a lot of people. He would go to the gym 3 times a week where he made a group of friends who would always meet up on a Saturday to train all together and have a coffee and a chat afterwards.
He had the best care at LOROS from the day he arrived. He was so relaxed after spending time in a side room at the LRI looking out onto a brick wall. The whole atmosphere in LOROS was just amazing, and for him to have a lovely garden to look out at really helped. Nothing was ever too much trouble for any of the staff, and the support me and mum received couldn't have been any better right from the doctors, cleaners, and volunteers. Even after Dad had died, with the counselling we received, everyone was amazing.
We were able to spend the last six days with Dad 24/7 as we were given a room near the Ward, which was a big comfort to know we were so close. Me and mum would take it in turns throughout the night to sit with him so he was never alone, which couldn't have been possible without the family rooms which felt like home from home.
Because of the care and support we all received, it would be nice to know other people can have the same at such a difficult time. And being a charity relying on donations, he was able to die peacefully and with dignity, which wouldn't have happened anywhere else, and we will be eternally grateful for that.
As I'm not particularly into sports, I saw the LOROS Twilight walk advertised on LOROS Facebook group which I joined. It seemed doable and knew I would be helping in some way to support a wonderful charity.
