Carol Challoner Memorial Fund
I am Carol Challoner's eldest daughter Carol Ann and I have set up this gofundme page in memory of my mum and on behalf of my family.
Sadly, after putting up such a strong and courageous fight against COVID19, my mum passed away peacefully in Aintree Hospital with my dad at her side. We are all absolutely devastated because we genuinely thought my mum was coming home, but that was not to be.
Everyone says their mum is the best mum in the world but my mum truly was. She was a loving and devoted wife to my dad (Joey), a kind and loving mum to myself, my sisters and my brother (Natalie, Hayley, and Joseph) and a nan who absolutely doted on her grandchildren and loved to spoil them (Alix, Paul, Shaun, Reece, Lucas, and Thomas). My mum also leaves behind two surviving siblings, Collette and Tony.
Anyone who knew my mum can tell you how funny she was, how loving and caring she was, and how beautiful my mum was, both inside and out. My mum gave so much to others - her love, her attention, her time, her generosity, and her dedication. My mum knew how to put a smile on people's faces, how to light up a room, how to show compassion. My mum loved to laugh, knew how to enjoy life, and oh how my mum enjoyed life. She was so so full of life my little mama bear.
In memory of my mum's life, as a family, we would dearly like to thank ALL of you who have contacted our family with your kind words of condolence, they have given us much comfort. From the bottom of our hearts, we also want to thank and praise ALL of the staff at Aintree Hospital who looked after my mum (and myself) on Wards 22, 23, HDU, VIC and the Critical Care Unit. The compassion they showed, the determination, the dedication, and professionalism have overwhelmed my family and we will NEVER be able to thank them enough.
Purpose of the fundraising
Whilst a COVID19 patient myself in Aintree Hospital, I watched the staff struggle with their PPE. The plastic gowns drew their sweat, the face masks rubbed against the tops of their ears, the sweat dripped from their brows to the tops of their face masks and their hands suffered due to the handwashing and sanitisation gel. I spoke with numerous staff members and the one thing that stood out to me was, they each said they couldn't wait to get home and soak in the bath. Hence, the purpose of this Memorial appeal in my mum's name. (Please also be aware that some of our NHS staff have had to move away from their families. I was talking to one member of staff who told me she has a 2 year old daughter and lives with her grandparents. She had to move into a hotel in order to protect them. This poor girl was in her early 20s. Imagine having to make that decision. Imagine not knowing when you will get to hold and hug your little girl again. She broke my heart. She told me ‘... it’s what you have to do, isn’t it?!”)
As a family, we would like to raise at least £1,000 so that we can provide as many staff at Aintree Hospital with, what most would consider being everyday luxuries, but essentials for these HEROES, especially during these tough times - moisturisers, bath bombs, bath gel, etc.. Those little items that will mean a great deal to them. We need to help our HEROES with their mental health and wellbeing because believe me, they are dealing with so much right now, and unless you’ve been on those wards, or have lost a loved one to COVID19, you will NEVER really understand what’s going on. So if it means our little HEROES get to soak in a bubble bath for half an hour, moisturise their damaged, painful skin on their hands then this is the very least we can do for them.
Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. We MUST look after ourselves and each other so that we can look after our HEROES.
The Challoner Family.
#staysafe #protectournhs #nhs