To celebrate the life of Keith Stock - Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

On the evening of 9th April 2017 Keith was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia. He fought hard but was eventually placed on a ventilator and a subsequent CT scan revealed a previously undiagnosed tumour in his lung, which had already spread to his bones. It was untreatable and myself and his family agreed that life support should be stopped in order to spare him any further suffering. He passed away peacefully with his family around him on 22nd April 2017.

Keith was my beloved husband, my soul mate and my best friend. He was also my carer throughout my life. I have a lifelong disability, but Keith never saw it - only me, and we faced the challenges it brought together, sometimes with tears but more often than not with love and laughter. Keith taught me that with love and understanding, anything and everything is possible. We were together for 40 years, three months and twenty two days. I bless the day we met and I cherish every day we were together.

Keith had very little in the way of symptoms except for some shoulder pain which I later learned can be a symptom. The pain was misdiagnosed and by the time it was discovered, his cancer was untreatable. The symptoms can be diverse and vague, and as with all cancer fear is a killer. If you suspect something, the sooner you seek help, the better chance of survival you have.

I want to raise money for the Roy Castle Foundation for Lung Cancer in Keith’s name as a tribute to the unique and wonderful man he was, and in gratitude for the much needed care and support the Foundation has given me since he died. Every day without Keith has been a struggle but I am gradually learning that he lives on in me. I carry him with me in my heart and soul every day, and it will be that way for the rest of my life. It is my hope that this terrible disease will one day be conquered and I am very conscious of the valuable contribution the Foundation is making towards acheiving this goal. Thank you.