Knox Family to switch on Willowbrook’s Christmas Tree lights

This is the story of why the Knox family, who have been invited to switch on our Christmas Tree lights this year:

“From April 2021, Tony had been experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort and eventually went to the GP. He was referred to the hospital and began months of tests.

Tony and I had a holiday booked to Barbados for December 2021, to celebrate my 50^th Birthday (Barbados holds very special memories for us both, as we married there in June 1998, and renewed our wedding vows in June 2015, we visited there as often as we could and called it ‘our happy place’.

Whilst on holiday, Tony received a phone call from Clatterbridge Hospital saying they would like to book him in to start his treatment. This came as a real shock to us both, because at this stage, he had not even been given a diagnosis. He had an appointment to see a consultant on his return; but this confirmed what I think deep down he already knew; He had Cancer.

On 14^th December 2021, he was given the devastating news he had Pancreatic Cancer, and at this stage surgery was not even an option, as the tumour was attached to a main artery. Instead, they began a 6-month course of aggressive chemotherapy, which he had to have every 2 weeks, with a view to trying to shrink the tumour enough to attempt surgery. 

The treatment was gruelling and really took its toll on Tony, he was so ill, but the man he was, he kept at it, never complained and even continued working as a building surveyor throughout.

After 6 months they did a scan, and we were told the tumour had shrunk enough for them to attempt surgery.  So, in July 2022, he underwent a Whipple procedure, which is major surgery, he was in theatre for over 15 hours. They gave us the news that they had removed the tumour but there was a small amount left, which they were unable to remove due to its location. 

Tony got through the surgery, not before getting life threatening sepsis, but again he fought on.  He then had to undergo a further 6 months of chemotherapy and eventually rang the bell in March 2023, just before we were going on our family holiday to Florida, which Tony had booked before he had gotten his diagnosis. We were all so happy, he did it, it kicked cancers butt, and if anyone was going to do it, Tony would. We had the best family holiday with our family and Grandsons, George and Noah, and it made Tony so happy seeing them all having the best time.  What was even more special, was our son Paul and partner Jackie got married whilst we were there so we had the best time celebrating.

Tony had been told, if the cancer would return it would happen normally within 2 years, and how true were they.  From scans and ongoing tests due to Tony becoming unwell again, we were told the devastating news in August 2024, that the cancer had returned to the pancreas, and it was terminal. He was told he would be given palliative chemotherapy indefinitely which he had to have every 2 weeks.  The thought of the treatment made him ill, never mind the treatment itself.

But again, thinking of the family, he knew the grandchildren wanted to go to Cornwall, so he booked the family a holiday to Cornwall, and we went on 9^th June 2025, spending an amazing week, which Tony loved so much, seeing the kids having fun.

Whilst there, he was feeling unwell and tired and was ill on our return home.  To the point an ambulance had to be called, and he was admitted to the gastro ward at Aintree Hospital the beginning of July, where he was given the news that his cancer had spread to his bowel, lung and liver and he only had a matter or maybe days/weeks left to live.  We as a family were absolutely devastated.  But Tony being Tony, planned and arranged his whole funeral during his time at Aintree, so we would not have to go through the trauma of having to do it, he wanted to take that pressure and pain away from us.

He spent 5 weeks at Aintree and was given the most amazing care.  Tony had said that he wanted to come home, as he was getting ill, and so he managed to get home on 1^st August, which sadly was very short lived, as he become more ill and in so much pain over that weekend.  The palliative specialist nurse visited our home on Sunday 3^rd August, and made calls and managed to get Tony a bed at Willowbrook there and then; with an ambulance arriving some 25 minutes later to take him.

He arrived and from that moment we were met by the most incredible team. They made all our family and Tony feel at ease and were immediately able to administer pain relief.

Tony sadly took his last breath on Sunday 10^th August, exactly one week from when he arrived. But what I can say is that Willowbrook were a lifeline for Tony and for our family. They gave him and us all so much love, care and compassion, and this was from every single member of the staff and team.  They managed to control the awful pain he had been experiencing, and make him comfortable, which was all we could ever ask for.

His room was so lovely, big, fresh and bright.  The grounds of Willowbrook are so beautiful, with a park for the children, and plants and vegetable plots. This allowed us to go for some fresh air when we needed to.

We were all allowed to be there whenever we wanted, and spend those last days of special time with Tony.  I stayed over every night along with my sister and sister-in-law who took turns to stay with me, and the staff made a lovely bed up every night for us to be able to rest.

Nothing was too much trouble; the staff were there around the clock, no matter what your needs. 

We cannot thank Willowbrook enough for giving us that opportunity we had to spend with Tony for his final journey, and that’s why our family needed to give back some way. To be able to do something, and that’s why the Moonlight Walk was an ideal opportunity to start; so my daughter in law Jackie signed us all up.  We got to fundraising, and we were delighted with what we raised. 

We were so humbled by the amazing response we got from Willowbrook thanking us for our efforts.  We just wanted to do what we could for this amazing place.

We will continue to fundraise whenever we can, to thank Willowbrook and all the truly amazing team there, for everything they do.

No one knows when the time may come where you or your family may need the help of a hospice, and its only then, you realise how amazing they are and just what they do, so please do what you can to help them, and to continue to help families like mine; please do what you can, and donate to them or fundraise, because every penny really does make a difference.

We are devastated by the loss of Tony, he was truly the most amazing hardworking, Husband, Dad and Grandad anyone could ever wish for, but know he was able to be pain free and peaceful with his loved ones by his side at Willowbrook.”

Colette Knox

To date, the Knox family has raised £3,000 from sponsorship at the Moonlight Walk and funeral donations, and has collected and donated a vast range of auction and raffle prizes which will be used for upcoming fundraising events! We really are so grateful to all the support we have received by the Knox family.