Jim Fagan
Thirty-six-year-old Kristy-Elle Shepherd misplaced her year-long battle in opposition to Stage 3 cervical most cancers on Might 14 this 12 months and died at Katie Rose Cottage Hospice together with her loving household, the Shepherd’s and the Priest’s, round her.
And the household, so moved by the extent of compassion and care she was freely given, are donating an 18-carat white gold bracelet filled with diamonds and different treasured stones like pink tourmaline, rose quartz and amethyst for the hospice to supply as first prize in an upcoming fundraising lottery.
Kristy-Elle’s husband and Noosa Civic jeweller Eliahi Priest (41) of Priest Jewellers instructed Noosa At this time the bracelet, when completed, can be valued at properly over $30,000.
“Kristy-Elle liked huge, chunky items of jewelry and now we have despatched all the fabric to certainly one of our customized jewellers, Chris Rackley of Sandgate, who’s, I consider, among the best in Queensland. His work is of such prime quality, and he does a few of our distinctive and essential items.
“Chris stated to me: ‘That is going to shut my workshop for 2 weeks. It’s a huge piece.’
Eliahi’s household celebrated 75 years in enterprise as jewellers final 12 months. They got here to Noosa from New South Wales in 1995 and have been a fixture for 25 years at Noosa Village Procuring Centre earlier than shifting to Noosa Civic.
He stated, “The care at Katie Rose is outstanding. It borders on the religious.
“It’s a very heightened time for everybody and to have that degree of affection and compassion from people who find themselves strangers once you first are available in is wonderful. Noosa is blessed, completely blessed, to have a Katie Rose. We, as a household, got here out of there and we thought this form of factor must be all over the place for everybody not only for Noosa.”
He stated Kristy-Elle’s admission on the hospice was organised by the house palliative care service.
“It was the most suitable choice for Kristy-Elle as Katie Rose is rather like a beautiful residence. It’s non-invasive for individuals on the finish of life. As a enterprise in the neighborhood and as a household in the neighborhood we needed to assist the staff at Katie Rose and what it does.
“Dad had the thought of supporting the raffle and my staff member Katelyn and I got here up with the Kristy-Elle bracelet. We thought it will entice individuals to this essential fundraiser.
“Kristy-Elle was a outstanding 36-year-old. She all the time lived a wholesome life, by no means smoked, was all the time exercising however most cancers is indiscriminate as to who it goes after. She fought such a brave battle. Even in ache she was all the time beautiful and powerful.
“The Priest household so appreciates every part Katie Rose has completed for us, and we’re delighted to present again for Kristy-Elle with this lovely bracelet,” Eliahi stated.
Katie Rose chairman, Carol Raye, stated the hospice was extraordinarily proud that its nursing care staff was recognised as being so “supportive of our visitors and their households at such a troublesome and unhappy time.
“Our nurses are the spine, supported by our carers and volunteers, in all that we do. It’s such a privilege to be part of this time in a household’s journey.
“All of us at Katie Rose are particularly touched that Kristy-Elle’s household felt our care and help worthy of such an impressive prize for our subsequent lottery.
“This beneficiant donation by Eliahi and his household to honour Kristy-Elle’s life brings a chance for the neighborhood to help the work that we do at by elevating a lot wanted funds for our palliative care nurses,” Carol stated.
Particulars on buy lottery tickets will probably be introduced shortly. Donations could also be made to Katie Rose on-line at www.katierosecottage.org.au
