Paul Woodward, whose son Kalel died at the age of 11 in 2019, appeared on BBC Breakfast on Saturday (February 21) to discuss his experience with hospice care. He told hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt how entering Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire, was initially 'terrifying'.
Kalel had an unknown condition that caused symptoms including bone fractures, seizures, and chest infections. Paul recalled how after a major seizure, his son lost many of his capabilities and was recommended to the hospice when he was three or four years old. 'You know you get told your child's going to hospice and everything goes through your head,' he said.
Despite the initial fear, Paul emphasised the positive environment of the hospice, describing it as 'full of colour and love and music and laughter'. He noted that some children may eventually 'graduate' from children's hospice care to adult services, highlighting that it is not solely a place for end-of-life care.
Paul has made two documentaries about the hospice. The first, The Little Things, focused on Kalel's life and care. The second, Voice Again, explores how the organisation helps fathers work through their grief. He described his son as 'a little boy who would smile at the wind, at ducks', and credited Kalel's personality for the happiness they experienced during seven years at the hospice.
