Mesothelioma UK simply couldn’t do what we do without the kindness and generosity of those who support us. Every donation – large or small – helps to fund our specialist nurses and vital support services for people affected by mesothelioma.
Gifts left in wills, known as legacies, are especially meaningful. They’re a lasting way to make a difference and ensure that support is there for others in the future. One such extraordinary gift came from Derek Smith, a much-loved husband, father and mesothelioma patient, who kindly left £10,000 to Mesothelioma UK in his will.
We had the privilege of speaking with his daughters, Nicky and Jo, who shared Derek’s story with us.
An active man in retirement
“Dad was a heating engineer for 50 years. He lived in Norwich, working locally across Norfolk for various companies. Despite having retired, he was really healthy, fit and loved the outdoors. Earlier in life, he enjoyed water skiing and windsurfing but after retirement, he slowed the pace. He and Mum bought a boat to cruise the Norfolk Broads which they then sold to buy a campervan.
“He spent a lot of time on such activities and with his five grandchildren, we were a close family and spent a lot of time together.
“However, in 2019, he became unwell, developing a cough and cold that lingered. Over Christmas and into the New Year, it progressed, and he was getting pain and feeling short of breath. He went to his GP, had an X-ray and was referred to a respiratory team.
“Following a CT scan, biopsies and more tests, he was sadly diagnosed with mesothelioma a week before lockdown. We were told that it was an aggressive form of cancer and his life expectancy could be just 18 months. This was really tough for the family as due to his highly vulnerable state and the covid restrictions, we were unable to visit and spend quality time with him during this difficult time. However, despite the lockdown, we were very thankful that his treatment was not delayed or cancelled and went ahead as planned.
“He was offered a place on the MARS2 trial but that would’ve involved surgery and he didn’t want to travel up and down to London during Covid, so went for chemotherapy at the local hospital.
“The first year of chemo went well. He bought an exercise bike as he was conscious of keeping fit. He also bought a new campervan to do up as he was a ‘real craftsman’. Mum and Dad started to go to campsites with it when they could and he ploughed on, despite the treatment. We spent as much time altogether as we could; he loved spending time with the grandchildren.”
“Fiercely independent and so brave”
“Dad started to become more unwell after his chemo in the second year – he lost his appetite and lost a lot of weight. He was becoming more short of breath and easily fatigued. He had complications related to infections and a clot which resulted in a couple of stays in hospital.
“At the end of November 2022, Dad went back into hospital. He was on the ward for a couple of weeks and although showed some initial signs of improvement, he sadly deteriorated and passed away on 13 December.
“Dad was somebody who didn’t want to talk about, or be defined by his disease. He wanted to put the illness to the back of his mind and carry on with his life as best as he could. Whilst he was in hospital, he would often ask “what all the fuss was about”. He was fiercely independent and so brave until the end.”
Compensation helps pay for care
“When Dad was first diagnosed, we were advised to attempt a legal claim. We submitted the paperwork and were successful, so he received a compensation payment.
“Dad had worked in a number of buildings across Norfolk, such as hospital sites, and we believe that he had multiple exposures to asbestos. Dad was aware of other gentlemen with whom he had worked over the years that had also sadly been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
“The money from the legal claim covered having a stairlift installed at home, which enabled him to remain independent for as long as possible.”
Leaving a legacy in his memory
“As an industrial illness, it feels so frustrating as it’s a totally avoidable cancer. We spoke to Mesothelioma UK when Dad was initially diagnosed and we’re so glad that he’s left some money to them in his will in the form of a legacy donation.
“We hope that this will help other mesothelioma patients and give them hope by investing more in research and clinical trials.
“In addition to the money, one of Dad’s legacy actions was to act as encouragement for other people to go for routine scans if they may have been exposed. Other family members have since been for scans, as his brothers all worked in the same industry.”
We are incredibly grateful to Nicky and Jo for sharing their dad’s story with us. Derek’s generosity through his gift in his will will have a lasting impact, helping us to provide care, information and hope for people affected by mesothelioma.
Sustainable gifts like Derek’s play a vital role in securing the future of our services and ensuring that no one has to face mesothelioma alone.
