Castle Douglas has bid an emotional farewell to a young mother whose life was tragically cut short by cancer.
Mum-of-two Rachel Houston passed away last week in the Alexandra Unit at Dumfries Infirmary.
Rachel, 42, had been receiving specialist palliative care at the centre for some time.
Her husband Stephen has set up a donations page on Facebook for the unit as a token of thanks.
Its initial target was £200 – but by Wednesday afternoon the total had smashed through the £5,000 barrier.
Stephen said: “We thought it was the least we could do. During Rachel’s illness every ward and every department has been superb.
“But the Alexandra Unit is in a different league. Nothing is too much for them whether it’s patients or families.
“A couple of times Rachel phoned to say we’re having a Chinese meal. I asked if that was on the menu but she said no – the lassies got it in.
“At the end when we went down they were brilliant.”
Stephen, 43, added: “All the money we raise will go to the unit to do with as they see fit. I think this will help other people in difficult times – Rachel would have wanted that.”
People who knew Rachel were out in force to bid her farewell on Thursday as her funeral cortege made its way through the town.
Paying tribute to his wife’s strength of will, Stephen added: “Rachel put up a good fight for four and a half or five years. She would not let her illness stop her – she was so determined and stubborn.
"You would tell her to take it easy but she would not take a telling. I would turn my back and she would be off doing stuff about the house.
“Then she would sit down on the couch totally puggled.”
Because of Covid-19 restrictions the funeral at Roucan Loch crematorium was private.
Stephen thanked everyone for all their messages, cards, flowers and donations to the Alexandra Unit. He said: “It has been a superb response to the appeal.”
Rachel leaves behind two children, Callie, 13, and 17-year-old Kalem.
Speaking to the News in 2018, Rachel said: “I will stay strong as long as I can. It’s really about staying strong for the family, not necessarily for myself. Everybody has their time – it’s just going to come to me a bit sooner.”
