A DAUGHTER whose dad tragically killed himself before Christmas after his benefits were stopped has revealed he left her a heartbreaking gift as a approach to “preserve in contact”.
Kevin Dooley had purchased walkie-talkies for his granddaughters and his daughter Leanne believes it was his approach of preserving in contact from heaven.
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Dad of three Kevin, 48, hung himself after his benefits were cruelly stopped in December 2018.
Leanne had seen him hours earlier and later found his physique.
The mum-of-three bravely went on to have fun 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 Yvette Cooper in Parliament final month to plead for modifications in the way in which that disabled claimants are handled by the DWP.
Leanne, mum to Cara, 12, Scarlet, 10 and Willow, two, stated: “On the day my dad hung himself, I visited him, however I used to be in a actual hurry as a result of it was developing to Christmas and I might been at work and was dashing to acquire my kids from college.
“I did not hug him or inform him I beloved him. That can hang-out me all the time.
“Hours later I went again to uncover 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 like to assume it was his approach of preserving in contact from heaven.”
As a younger man, Kevin was a devoted father and a match and wholesome man. He was a painter and decorator and a DIY professional.
Leanne, from Leeds, stated: “Once I was little, my dad was numerous enjoyable. He had all the time struggled with melancholy however did his finest to cover it.
“Once I bought my very own place he laid new flooring and did all my DIY. When my children got here alongside, he idolised them. He regarded after them while I labored, and he spoiled them with treats and presents.”
SUFFERED WITH COPD
In 2001, Kevin started to endure with COPD and was identified with a blood dysfunction. He turned too in poor health to work and relied on benefits and suffered with extreme melancholy.
Leanne stated: “Dad actually struggled together with his well being. He had a number of blackouts and hospital admissions. I labored in a pharmacy so I helped together with his medicine. I visited him on daily basis.
“He beloved seeing my kids, he actually lived for his granddaughters.”
However in July 2018, Kevin obtained a letter from the DWP asking him to attend a match to work evaluation.
The household believed the appointment was routine, however in November he was notified that his benefits could be stopped.
Leanne added: “Dad rang me at work and he was crying and panicking. I had by no means heard him in such a state. I advised him that we would attraction, I could not see how anybody may declare him match to work. I felt certain it was a mistake.”
However Kevin’s attraction was refused and Leanne started making ready to go to a tribunal.
She stated: “I used to be planning to give him some cash to preserve him going. However he did not need charity; he felt ashamed. He needed to find a way to purchase treats for his grandkids and to feed and look after himself, together with his personal cash.
“By now, it was simply a week before Christmas and so I used to be actually busy with nativity performs and Christmas purchasing. I used to be working and in addition trying after my dad and my daughters.
“On December 17 I popped in to see Dad to acquire all of the DWP paperwork to put together for his tribunal. He was actually down however I used to be in a large rush to acquire the ladies from college, I did not hug him or inform him how a lot I beloved him. I’ll all the time remorse that.”
That very same night, Leanne obtained a textual content saying “I like you” from her father. She rushed to his dwelling and located him hanging.
Kevin was rushed to hospital however handed away on December 20, aged 48.
‘ABSOLUTELY HEARTBROKEN’
Leanne stated: “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 a few days before Christmas. I like to assume it is his approach of preserving in contact.
“I had to go forward with Christmas, for my daughters. We bought a bauble with Dad’s photograph on and saved his ashes at dwelling.
“The tragedy was, I might deliberate to give him a lump sum of money for Christmas, however in fact he by no means bought to know that.”
Kevin’s loss of life was recorded as suicide and, because the household struggled to cope, Leanne found she was pregnant along with her third baby, Willow, now two.
She says: “I consider Willow was despatched by my dad to make us all smile once more. She was a full shock however she actually gave us a new focus.”
Leanne is now campaigning for the DWP to deal with benefits claimants with extra compassion and respect.
She’s going to subsequent month journey to parliament to foyer MP’s and meet the shadow dwelling secretary.
She stated: “My dad had a assembly with a complete stranger on the DWP who advised him to contact his toes after which determined to take away his solely supply of earnings.
“There is no such thing as a approach he was match to work and it was the lack of his benefits that drove him to suicide.
“I need to be sure that no different household suffers as we’ve got. We miss him a lot, particularly at Christmas.”
Contact the Samaritans
If in case you have been affected by any of the problems raised in this text, contact The Samaritans on 116 123.
They’re obtainable at no cost at anytime.
Or e-mail https://www.samaritans.org/
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