A photo showing a terminally ill couple holding hands in hospital has been shared by their children and it’s absolutely heartbreaking.
The brave couple who have both been devastatingly diagnosed with terminal cancer, are pictured holding onto one another as they say their final goodbyes.
The children of Mike and Julie Bennet, took the photo just days before the father of three sadly passed away in the Merseyside hospice, the Mirror reports.
Their 57-year-old dad, Mike, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2013 and had been battling the merciless disease ever since.
Julie had been a primary school teacher at Somerville, Wallasey, before she was also diagnosed with liver and kidney cancer in 2016.
Friends of the couple have promised 50-year-old Julie, they would look after their children and are raising funds to help them after the loss of their dad and the future loss of their mum.
Dying Julie’s friend, Heather Heaton Gallagher told the Mirror:
Words cannot express our desperate sadness for such a beautiful family. The Bennets are known to all for their generosity, their love for life, and their down to earth approach.
Julie has kept the children in a normal routine whilst dealing with Mike’s illness over the past few years. When Julie became ill, she made it her purpose to create as many memories as a family for the children to hold onto.
Facing a double terminal cancer diagnosis is beyond belief and, as a community, we are working hard to support the family so that they can stay together and ensure that they can continue their education as planned.
A JustGiving fund has been set up by the community to help raise money to continue to look after their three children, Oliver, 13, Hannah, 18 and Luke, 21.
Luke said to the Mirror:
My brother, sister and I are overwhelmed by the enormous support and generosity we have received from so many friends and well-wishers, and it gives my mum a great deal of comfort to hear that we are being so well looked after by the community.
I know it has been her priority since being diagnosed to make sure that the three of us can continue as best we can with our studies and fulfil our ambitions.
Mum has appreciated all the help from close friends in supporting the family over the last three years through difficult times and it would be a huge relief to her to know this support will continue when she can’t be with us anymore.
To support the family, please contact Sue Wright on 07471030500 or visit their JustGiving page.
Thoughts go out to the family and anyone affected at this difficult time.