Anybody who knew Carol Stones will remember how much she enjoyed writing and sharing her poetry with family and friends.
Towards the end of her life, as she became ill, those poems gave her something to share and smile about during her long days at home and in hospital.
And when Carol, who lived in Crookes, became a patient at St Luke’s, her comic verse and reflections on life gave family and friends great comfort and even became an unexpected hit with the nurses who would come in to listen and laugh.
It was one of the St Luke’s team who actually suggested that the poems should be together in a special collection and now that book - Sometimes I Just Sits and Thinks - is raising money for St Luke’s.
“Mum would be thrilled by that because she was an enthusiastic St Luke’s supporter,” said son Danny
“She was always in and out of the St Luke’s shops in Broomhill and Crookes and she actually furnished her apartment with things from the Crookes furniture shop!
“As Mum became ill she was supported at home by the brilliant St Luke’s Community Team.
“When the time came for her to go into the hospice, we knew from the first moment just how great the care was going to be because everybody was just so understanding, empathetic and friendly. We were incredibly grateful at every level.
“Mum’s passing could not have been more beautiful – it was as perfect as it could be – and her being at St Luke’s took all the pressure off the family and allowed us to focus on the time we had left with her.
“Mum would be delighted to know that people are still reading her poems and she would be even more delighted that they are supporting St Luke’s.”
The collection of poems is not for sale but is being offered to friends and members of the general public who are interested in return for a suggested minimum donation of £10.
Donations can be given to Carol’s son Danny or left on the family’s St Luke’s tribute site, which also has details on how to receive a copy of the book of poems. Carol