THE grandchildren of a much-missed Inverclyde community worker who died of cancer have given an emotional 'thank you' message to the 'brilliant' team who cared for their nana in her final days.

Patricia Compston spent her final weeks in the care of Ardgowan Hospice before she passed away on June 25, aged 55.

Now her granddaughters, Farrah and Daisie, and two-year-old grandson Tyler will be taking part in a sponsored walk across Port Glasgow and Greenock to bring in cash for the hospice.

They will be joined on the trek by other family members and Patricia’s former colleagues from CVS Inverclyde, who have organised the donation drive.

Emma and her daughters Farrah and Daisie, who will set out on a sponsored walk in memory of their nana Patricia to raise cash for Ardgowan Hospice. (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

Farrah, 10, told the Tele she wanted to thank the hospice for looking after her nana.

She said: “The people at the hospice were really nice. I liked spending time with nana there.

“There was a playroom we got to play in, we’d write letters and draw pictures of nana and the people there were really funny.

“They’re really special people.”

Her sister Daisie, 7, added: “I think they’re brilliant. They always make sure if they were giving nana food, they’d ask us what we want.

“They’re very caring.

“The people at CVS, my nana’s work friends, are really nice too and I really liked meeting them.”

Patricia’s daughter, Emma Compston, told the Tele that staff at Ardgowan Hospice had gone above and beyond to help her mother feel comfortable, and even threw a birthday party for Farrah in the hospice so that her nana could attend.

She said the hospice had helped give the family treasured time with Patricia and had made one of the most difficult periods of her life much easier.

Emma added: “We want to give back because not only did they look after my mum, they looked after my girls.

“Those last weeks were very special, and you would never have got that anywhere besides the hospice.

“My mum was there for 13 weeks and we got to know the nurses so well that we were sad to leave them.

“She was diagnosed almost a year to the day before she passed. She had stage 4B cancer which spread everywhere – her bones, her liver, her kidneys, her bladder, her brain. It was like wildfire.”

Emma says Patricia was initially scheduled to go into the hospice earlier this year, but fell and broke her leg the day she was due to go in.

Patricia Compson died in the care of Ardgowan Hospice on June 25. (Image: public)

She spent a week in hospital in Paisley but after an operation on her leg, Patricia remained unresponsive because medics didn't realise her cancer had reached her brain.

“When she came back from the operation," Emma continued, "we were told we only had a week with her, we were convinced we were going to lose her.

“But I had held her hand at one point and said to her ‘if you understand me squeeze my hand’ and she did.

“I knew she wasn’t going yet.

“That week where we thought she was going to go was one of the worst weeks of my life.

“But then they moved her from Paisley to Greenock and she was put into the hospice.

“To have 13 weeks in a place like that was a gift.

“She held on for all that time for us. It was time I thought I wasn’t going to get with her. It was a blessing.”

Throughout Patricia’s time at the hospice, the nurses and other staff worked hard to keep the family’s spirits up and make sure she was comfortable.

READ MORE: Heartfelt tributes paid to inspirational lady who touched many lives

Emma says they stayed by her and her family's side throughout their mother’s final week and ensured the pair were looked after.

Emma said: “Her last week was very difficult, and the kids never got to see her in the last fortnight. Had it not been for the hospice staff, our family would not have got by.

“They made us feel so comfortable and nice there.

“We became very close with them and I’ve not stopped thinking about the care we got since.

“The care is second to none and the girls just want to give back.

“When we had my mum’s funeral we had a fundraiser for them there, but to use that wasn’t us doing something for them, it was us giving back.

“Now the kids want to get up and show the hospice that they can’t thank them enough.

“CVS have been amazing too. I’d like to thank them for setting this up. They’re a great team and they’ve helped us so much.”

The walk will take place on September 6 and will start at Port Glasgow Health Centre, one of Patricia’s former workplaces, and end at another of her former employers, Greenock Health Centre.

Those wishing to donate to the fundraiser can do so at https://tinyurl.com/yszvrhuh.