A heartbroken daughter whose dad took his personal life days earlier than Christmas after his advantages had been stopped has spoken of his thoughtfulness, as he ordered presents for his grandchildren earlier than his dying.
Kevin Dooley ordered walkie-talkies for his daughter Leanne and her eldest little one Cara. Leanne believes the Christmas presents had been Kevin's was his method of conserving in contact after he died.
The daddy-of-three was 48 when he took his personal life after his advantages had been stopped, in December 2018. Sadly, Leanne found his physique, and had seen him simply hours earlier that day, the Mirror experiences.
Leanne bravely went on to have a good time Christmas for the sake of her younger daughters - and now remembers her father every Christmas with a tribute bauble on her tree.
Leanne met the Shadow Residence Secretary in Parliament final month to plead for modifications in the way in which that disabled claimants are handled by the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Leanne, mum to Cara, 12, Scarlet, 10 and Willow, two, mentioned: "On the day my dad hung himself, I visited him, however I used to be in an actual hurry as a result of it was coming as much as Christmas and I might been at work and was dashing to gather my youngsters from faculty.
"I did not hug him or inform him I cherished him. That may hang-out me all the time. Hours later I went again to find he had hung himself. I hope everybody who reads my story hugs the folks they love this Christmas. You by no means know when you'll run out of time.
"After Dad died, I found he had ordered presents for my daughters, walkie-talkies, to be delivered to my home. I wish to suppose it was his method of conserving in contact from heaven."
Kevin was a faithful father and a match and wholesome man when he was youthful. He was a painter and decorator and nice at DIY.
Leanne, who lives in Leeds, mentioned: "After I was little, my dad was a number of enjoyable. He had all the time struggled with melancholy however did his finest to cover it. After I acquired my very own place he laid new flooring and did all my DIY. When my youngsters got here alongside, he idolised them. He sorted them while I labored, and he spoiled them with treats and presents."
Kevin started to endure with COPD in 2001, and was recognized with a blood dysfunction. His sickness made him to unwell to work, and he relied on advantages and later struggled with extreme melancholy.
"Dad actually struggled along with his well being," mentioned Leanne. "He had a number of blackouts and hospital admissions. I labored in a pharmacy so I helped along with his medicine. I visited him each day. He cherished seeing my youngsters, he actually lived for his granddaughters."
Then in July 2018, Kevin was notified by the DWP that he must attend a match to work evaluation. Kevin believed that the appointment was merely routine, however he was informed at his advantages can be stopped.
Leanne mentioned: "Dad rang me at work and he was crying and panicking. I had by no means heard him in such a state. I informed him that we would attraction, I could not see how anybody may declare him match to work. I felt certain it was a mistake."
Nevertheless, Kevin's attraction was refused and his household started making preparations to go to a tribunal to attraction the choice.
Leanne mentioned: "I used to be planning to provide him some cash to maintain him going. However he did not need charity; he felt ashamed. He wished to have the ability to purchase treats for his grandkids and to feed and take care of himself, along with his personal cash.
"By now, it was only a week earlier than Christmas and so I used to be actually busy with nativity performs and Christmas purchasing. I used to be working and in addition taking care of my dad and my daughters.
"On December 17 I popped in to see Dad to gather all of the DWP paperwork to arrange for his tribunal. He was actually down however I used to be in an enormous rush to gather the women from faculty, I did not hug him or inform him how a lot I cherished him. I'll all the time remorse that."
That very same night, Leanne acquired a textual content saying "I really like you" from her father. She rushed to his dwelling and located him useless. Kevin was taken to hospital by ambulance however handed away.
Leanne says: "I used to be completely heartbroken. Regardless of his melancholy, I hadn't seen it coming. He had ordered walkie talkies for my daughters which arrived just a few days earlier than Christmas. I wish to suppose it is his method of conserving in contact.
"I needed to go forward with Christmas, for my daughters. We acquired a bauble with Dad's picture on and stored his ashes at dwelling. The tragedy was, I might deliberate to provide him a lump sum of money for Christmas, however in fact he by no means acquired to know that."
Kevin's dying was recorded as suicide. His grieving household struggled with the loss - then in 2020 Leanne found she was pregnant along with her third little one, Willow.
She mentioned: "I imagine Willow was despatched by my dad to make us all smile once more. She was an entire shock however she actually gave us a brand new focus."
Leanne is now campaigning for profit claimants to be handled with extra compassion and respect by the DWP. She went to Parliament Final month with the Rethink group, to foyer MPs and meet the Shadow Residence Secretary.
She mentioned: "My dad had a gathering with a complete stranger on the DWP who informed him to the touch his toes after which determined to remove his solely supply of revenue. There isn't a method he was match to work and it was the lack of his advantages that drove him to suicide.
"I wish to guarantee that no different household suffers as we now have. We miss him a lot, particularly at Christmas."
A DWP spokesperson mentioned: "This can be a tragic case and our ideas are with the household of Mr Dooley. We wish to make sure that folks with disabilities and well being circumstances get the help they're entitled to and and choices are made following consideration of all the data offered by the claimant, together with supporting proof from their GP or medical specialist.
"Mr Dooley continued to obtain advantages throughout his attraction."
In case you’re combating psychological well being issues or suicidal ideas you may go to www.fams.chat or name the helpline on 07736 326062.
Assist can also be out there at www.breathingspace.scot or by calling 0800 83 85 87.
The Samaritans could be contacted 24 hours a day on 116 123.
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