Why Scenic Rim farmer Jenny Jenner is raising funds in memory of her late husband
The idea of growing sunflowers and starting an agritourism business came to Scenic Rim farmers Jenny and Russell Jenner while they were in the grip of drought in Queensland in 2021.
The now iconic Kalbar Sunflower Festival was an instant success, but a year after the launch Russell was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer and given 12 months to live.
Although he outlived his initial diagnosis, Russell’s final weeks were spent in a hospital bed.
“It actually lasted 19 months,” Jenny said.
“Accepted [Mater Hospital in Brisbane] Four weeks before his death… [but] Since I was a farmer living in the countryside, I didn’t want him to die in the city.
“We managed to get him home but unfortunately his condition deteriorated further… and for the last eight days we had to attend our local Boonah Hospital for palliative care.”
Jenny told Russell that she couldn’t say the goodbye she had imagined at home on the farm.
“You know, be in a bed and give him a cuddle or something.”
During her time in palliative care, Jenny learned about “cuddle beds,” a larger hospital bed that allows dying patients to lie next to their loved ones and family members.
“Unless you’ve had this palliative care experience, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to watch your nearest and dearest disappear,” she said.
“It’s so important to be able to have that feeling of touch and closeness.”
After Russell’s diagnosis, the couple began donating proceeds from sunflowers sold at the festival to cancer care services.
When Jenny passed away, she decided to raise money to buy a lap bed for her local hospital.
Over the past three years it has served nine beds in south-east Queensland; The latest was presented to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane on Wednesday.
“Whether you’re 80 or eight, I think everyone deserves to die so they can lie next to the person you love,” Jenny said.
Children’s Health Queensland Director of Pediatric Palliative Care Associate Professor Anthony Herbert said the special bed, which costs $24,000, would give children the chance to share precious time with parents, siblings and loved ones “when every moment together matters”.
“We see how important these moments of connection are within our palliative care service,” Herbert said.
“We care for children with a holistic approach that includes caring for the whole family, and the cuddle bed provides an added level of comfort and closeness in the moments that matter most.”
Kerry Williams, who oversees impact programs for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, has seen firsthand how important something like a lap bed can be for families in times of loss and grief.
“I previously worked at Toowoomba Hospital Trust and we funded some beds there for babies to go into the maternity ward when they were born asleep [still birth]” said Williams.
“It just means that mom and dad can be there and spend that time with that little kid.”
Approximately 3,700 families come to the children’s hospital each year with a child who is in palliative care or has a life-limiting condition.
Knowing that she was making a tangible difference in the lives of palliative care patients motivated Jenny to continue her fundraising efforts.
“[Russell] “She would take her sunflowers to the hospital when she was getting chemotherapy,” Jenny said. “She always loved… seeing the smiles on other patients’ faces.
“Knowing that we can do something like this for so many families is what gets me out of bed every morning,” he said.
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