Man's final gift to granddaughter

John wrote a song for granddaughter Isobel Grace

A patient at St Peter's Hospice in Bristol has spoken of how he created a CD for his granddaughter to "leave a very special message" for her.

John Wallace, who died recently aged 62, said he wanted to make "something from the heart" for the girl that was "the oxygen" he breathed in his final days.

The song came about as a result of one of the activities the hospice centre provides.

"I do music therapy; but the thing I got out of it most of all which I never thought I'd really do is to write my own CD," John said.

"The main aim was [that] I could leave a very special message to my granddaughter.

"It's made in a format that she can play and listen to whenever she wants," John added, his voice cracking with emotion. "I know it's been a bit of a tearjerker for the rest of the family as well."

John said his family found his condition tough to cope with.

"Unfortunately they can see how physically this has affected me because being a very active person and to see somebody just wither away with an illness you can't really control or do anything about.

ST PETER'S HOSPICE First opened in 1978 at Lawrence Hill clinic Moved to Knowle Hospice in 1980 with seven beds Knowle Day Hospice opened in 1984 Brentry Day Hospice opens on part-time basis in 1995 in a portable building Brentry Hospice becomes full-time operation in 1998

"With the cancer you don't really know what is going to happen and I've seen people here diagnosed after me but have now passed away.

"It's an illness than can take you so quickly but I am fortunate that I've been given these extra years."

St Peter's Hospice, where John spent his final days, operates two centres in Bristol providing palliative care.

For the past 30 years the charity has been helping people with terminal conditions such as cancer.

Sandie Foxall-Smith, the chief executive of St Peter's Hospice, said they aim to offer long-term help to families.

"We often pick up families up to a year before people die and often keep hold of them for years afterwards either with bereavement services or we look after their children.

"They become part of our bigger family in Bristol and it's very important that we are in a position where we can do that."

• BBC Bristol are looking at the issue of bereavement on Breakfast with Richard Wyatt this week - tune in between 6am and 9am each weekday.