‘You don’t want to spoil anyone’s Christmas’: The reality of grief over the holidays

Dr Anke Timmerman’s father, Manfred, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in spring 2023 and died two months later in Germany at the age of 80 - (Dr Anke)

“Will I see another Christmas?” These were the last words Dr Anke Timmermann’s terminally ill father said to her before he died.

Dr Timmerman’s memories of the festive season with her father are very special, from him insisting they sing Christmas carols in candlelight to bringing home the tree from the local forest.