Wife thanks Charity for care of her husband she married at the Hospice

Share this story

Jamie Mercer aged 36, from Northstowe was cared for by the Charity at the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice in August 2025.

His wife, Zoe, very kindly shared their story:

“In 2019 Jamie went for a regular eye test and was told to go straight to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, as something was wrong.

They did loads of tests on him and he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in November 2019.

It broke all our hearts but Jamie fought for nearly six years to beat it. Sadly, none of the treatment was able to get rid of it.

In May 2025 we got told there was no more treatment available and that he would be offered palliative care.”

The Inpatient Unit

“Jamie went to the Inpatient Unit at Arthur Rank Hospice in August 2025 and we [Zoe and her nine year old son, Kian] moved into one of the two apartments at the Hospice.

The care and support everyone at the Hospice gave us was amazing. Kian used to say it was his second home as all the nurses were so kind to him and some of them gave him his favourite sweets.”

One Final Wish

“As Jamie’s health deteriorated he had one final wish – and that was to get married to me. Within a day of being in Arthur Rank Hospice we had all planned a wedding!

People so kindly and generously came forward to offer to support with flowers, a car, photography, hair and makeup, catering and even a Wedding Cake.

The Hospice's Sanctuary space, with window to one side — The Sanctuary before being decorated for the Wedding

The Sanctuary was decorated and our friends and family were there to witness the emotional ceremony. Afterwards we all celebrated in the Bistro and the Hospice garden.

We got married with the help of our friends, our generous community and the staff at the Hospice – if it was not for them Jamie’s final wish would not have come true.

On the last day of Jamie’s life, Tuesday 26 August, the staff at the Hospice made him so comfortable and pain free and they took care of me and Kian too.”

To say thank you

“In Jamie’s memory and to say thank you for the excellent care we all received at the Hospice, we have signed up to take part in Mission Mud on Saturday 9 May in 2026.