'We cherish moment our mum's dying wish came true'

Beaming as she was greeted by a pony at her bedside, Dorothy Greveson spent her last full day "being alert".

The 62-year-old, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020, died three days later, on 30 August 2023.

As she neared the end of her life, horse-loving Ms Greveson "wasn't ready to let go", her daughter Stacey Kelly said.

But her dying wish came true after getting a special visit at her end-of-life hospice.

Ms Greveson, from Clowne in Derbyshire, was admitted to Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield in 2023 to receive end-of-life care.

Life became "extremely tough watching mum get weaker and weaker", her daughter said.

"She wasn’t ready to go and that was the hardest part of it all – knowing that her age was just a number as she was so young at heart," Ms Kelly said.

The 27-year-old said her "adventurous and courageous" mum loved horses, holidays abroad and being around her children and granddaughter.

But toward the end of her life she was in "such pain and was miserable".

However, things changed when she arrived at Ashgate, Ms Kelly said.

Ms Greveson's final wish was to see a horse for "one last time" before she died

"Ashgate made that happen and brought a pony to her room. That brought the biggest smile to her face - it was the most she’d moved since arriving.

"That was mum’s last full day being alert, and it’s a memory we will always cherish and be grateful for," Ms Kelly said.

It was those special moments that prompted Ms Kelly to support the hospice's Light up a Life Appeal, which allows people to dedicate a star in a "virtual night sky" to their loved ones.

Alongside the rest of Ms Greveson's children - Liam, Louise and Dale - Ms Kelly said she would dedicate a star to their mum.

A spokesperson for the hospice added: "The fundraising campaign aims to raise funds so future patients can access the same support Dorothy did when they need it most."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.