Mum dedicates a light to daughter

20 November 2014

A MUM has made a Light for a Life dedication for her daughter who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Mum dedicates a light

Photo: Georgia Kelly with Day Hospice Staff Nurse, Natalie Gordon.

Paediatric nurse Karen Kelly, 38, made a dedication as part of Wigan and Leigh Hospice's annual Light for a Life event to eight-year-old Georgia who has neuroblastoma.

Mrs Kelly, who works as a Senior Children's Community Nurse for the Children's Complex Needs Team in Ince, also made dedications in thanks for her mum Ann from Atherton who is celebrating her 70th birthday this year and in remembrance of her son Jamie who died aged just three weeks old; her dad Sam Wood and her Auntie Connie.

Since Karen's Auntie Connie died in 2007 Karen and her family have made Light for a Life dedications every year and this year they have made ten dedications including Georgia who dedicated a light to a friend.

A light will be lit on the Hospice's Christmas Tree on December 2nd to represent each dedication made by Karen, her family and thousands of other families across the borough.

Karen said: "I like to support a local charity because it's nice being able to see where the money goes. We always make Light for a Life dedications because it's not just about remembering people those have died - it's about hope as well as remembrance - which is why I've made a dedication to Georgia."

Georgia was first diagnosed with cancer in October 2011 and finished treatment in April 2013. Unfortunately in August this year the family from Daisy Hill received the news that Georgia had relapsed and she is undergoing chemotherapy once again.

However Karen says the brave eight-year-old doesn't let her illness prevent her from going to school and enjoying hobbies including playing the recorder and swimming.

"I can't think of a time when she has let it stop her," said Karen. "If she gets sick, she just gets on with it."

The Hospice's Christmas Tree will be lit at 6.30pm on Tuesday, December 2nd. Names are also entered into a Book of Dedications which is printed into a bound book as a permanent tribute.

Dedications can be made by downloading a form from www.wlh.org.uk. Forms are also available from Wigan and Leigh Hospice shops, some GP and dentist surgeries and other locations around Wigan Borough. A separate form should be completed for each dedication.

Dedications can continue to be made until the twelfth night after Christmas.

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