In a deeply emotional segment on BBC Breakfast, a bereaved father has described the moment his son entered hospice care as "terrifying." Paul Woodward appeared on the programme hosted by Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt to discuss the loss of his son Kalel, who passed away at age 11 in 2019 due to an unknown medical condition.
Heartbreaking Loss and Hospice Journey
Paul Woodward revealed that his son Kalel suffered from an undiagnosed condition that caused multiple symptoms including bone fractures, seizures, and chest infections. The child experienced early developmental delays and wasn't progressing as expected, leading to numerous consultations with medical specialists.
"He had a sort of early developmental delay," Paul explained during the interview. "He wasn't progressing as he should have and then you know, you just get to see consultants and things like that."
The Turning Point
The situation dramatically changed when Kalel experienced a major seizure that caused him to lose many of his existing capabilities. It was at this point, when Kalel was just three or four years old, that the family was recommended to Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire.
"That's when we were recommended when he was three or four to the hospice to Derian House, which is terrifying," Paul shared with the BBC Breakfast hosts. "You know you get told your child's going to hospice and everything goes through your head."
Overcoming Hospice Stigma
Paul acknowledged that many parents share similar fears about hospice care, often associating it exclusively with end-of-life situations. "I know there's parents out there who have put off going to hospice because they're terrified," he said. "They just think hospice is death."
However, his experience at Derian House completely transformed this perception. "The wonderful thing is when you actually go through the doors of the hospice, we had seven years there," Paul revealed. "We were very lucky to have all those years... seven years of memories and happiness."
Documentary Work and Legacy
Paul has channeled his family's experience into documentary filmmaking. His first film, The Little Things, focuses on Derian House Children's Hospice and the care they provided for Kalel. He has since created a second documentary titled Voice Again, which explores how the organization helps fathers process their grief.
"So I guess that's what we wanted to show in the first film," Paul explained. "That it's full of colour and love and music and laughter."
Remembering Kalel
Paul fondly remembered his son as "incredible" and described him as "a little boy who would smile at the wind, at ducks." He emphasized that Kalel's essence permeates his documentary work. "He was a sweetheart and essentially his essence is in the first film we did," Paul said. "His personality, everything that we went through with him and Derian House, he made it all, you know he made all the happiness."
Hospice as a Positive Space
The interview highlighted an important aspect of children's hospice care that often goes unrecognized. Paul noted that some children who enter hospice care eventually "graduate" to adult hospice facilities, demonstrating that these institutions provide ongoing support rather than just end-of-life care.
BBC Breakfast continues to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer daily from 6am, featuring a variety of news segments and human interest stories like Paul Woodward's powerful testimony about hospice care and parental grief.
