The tragic loss of a twin brother has prompted a timely donation to staff at Walsall Manor Hospital, where several members of his family worked.
Father of six Rob Bradburn, 47, lost his four-year battle with lung and kidney cancer on 7 December after suffering pneumonia.
Mr Bradburn been treated on Nephrology (kidney function) Ward for three weeks after being re-admitted to hospital.
Rob’s identical twin Paul is a Transport Manager at international courier DHL on its TK Maxx contract, which is making donations to local NHS trusts.
The firm decided to donate £100 worth of toiletries, sweets and chocolate to Walsall staff after hearing the tragic news about the brother, whose six children are aged six to 21.
Rob was a Transport Manager at Bid Food, who supply ingredients to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and partner The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
His wife Kirsty is a Clinical Support Worker at the Manor, and the twins’ mum Marlene is a retired midwife who worked at the Manor for more than 30 years.
Paul came to the Manor to hand the dozens of bottles of shower gel, hand creams and boxes of sweets and chocolates over to Well Wishers charity with DHL Transport Administrator Tammie Bullock.
He said: “The care Rob received from staff at the Manor over the whole four years was brilliant, all the way through to the end.
“I’m grateful to DHL for their donation, which we wanted to go to all staff because of the family connection and as a gesture of thanks to all the staff. Hopefully it will bring a smile to people.”
Colleague Tammie looks after DHL’s contract with TK Maxx, whose drivers donated the hand creams and shower gels. She added: “All the staff here deserve this because they all work so hard.”
Liz Grace, Specialist Nurse Acute Kidney Injury, treated Rob and attends the same church – St. Thomas in Aldridge – as Marlene and her husband Roy, the twins’ father.
She said: “It’s such a shame – Rob was a lovely man. I know the family and they are lovely people. It was a lovely gesture of Paul’s firm to offer the staff these gifts.”