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“They listened to what we had to say and saw what he needed.”

17 January 2025

For Aston Villa super-fan Craig Liggitt and his devoted parents, Chris and Bill, Birmingham Hospice’s dedicated Hospice at Home team is a vital lifeline which provides essential support.

Craig, 44, lives at his Northfield home with his mother and father and needs specialist care after being diagnosed with three tumours on his brain and another on his spine in 2021.

He had previously defied expectations aged 21 when he recovered from an operation to remove a brain tumour, despite being given two years to live.

Craig returned to work for Birmingham What’s On magazine and interviewed stars such as Shania Twain and the Spice Girls.

A season ticket holder for Villa, his favourite players are Tony Daley and Paul McGrath. He loved watching games alongside Birmingham City supporting dad, Bill.

Craig Liggitt with his parents Bill (left) and Chris (right).

Craig also enjoys having fun with Chris, who said: “Craig’s not just my son, he’s my mate. We used to go shopping together and to the cinema.

“The hospital keeps saying he shouldn’t be here but he’s a fighter.”

But in 2021, doctors discovered a tumour had grown on his spine after he had complained of pain in his back and legs.

Three tumours then developed on his brain, which left him unable to walk or sit up, suffering from short term memory problems and a bleed on his brain.

His illness also made him prone to falling out of bed, which was a huge concern for his parents.

Due to his condition, Craig needs specialist care, but Chris and Bill struggled to find adequately trained carers, who often made him feel irritable, jumpy and nervous.

His retired parents did their best to look after Craig without help before being referred to our Hospice at Home team by their doctor.

Following a meeting to understand the type of care their son needed, Hospice at Home’s experienced team of carers now visit each morning to wash, dress and help him.

Importantly, they provided an adjustable bed and padded floor mats to prevent him from hurting himself if he rolls out of bed.

“The team at Birmingham Hospice listened to what we had to say and saw what he needed,” said Chris.

Craig shows off his ball signed by Aston Villa’s players.

“The bed is a godsend, and it has stopped him falling out of bed. It’s fantastic.”

Hospice at Home goes the extra mile to make sure the patient and their families feel valued. Staff can often be found singing rap and R&B with Craig, who is a huge fan of rapper Tupac.

Chris said: “Having Hospice at Home coming in puts your mind at rest; we know that he’s comfortable and happy. He’s singing and laughing, and they dance with him, which takes a lot of pressure off us.

“Unless you have been through the experience which we’ve been through with carers, the difference with Birmingham Hospice doesn’t compare. They’re fantastic.”

For Chris and Bill, the team have become more than just carers.

“They’re not just concerned with Craig; they talk to us as well to see how we’re coping,” concluded Chris.

“They feel like part of the family. They feel like they know us. The hospice will always be part of us.”

Learn more about Birmingham Hospice’s amazing Hospice at Home team by clicking here.