15/04/2026
Today, RAIS closed to honour our friend and client, Asrin. We are heartbroken to write that at around 4:15am this morning, on 15th April 2026, Asrin passed away at 28 years of age. After a sudden deterioration beginning on Thursday last week, after weeks of relative stability, it became evident that Asrin had short time left over the weekend and that medical repatriation was no longer possible. She began slipping away from the world peacefully over a course of days, surrounded by those who love her, and having calls with her family during a nationwide internet shutdown in their country, Iran. The hospice staff made sure she was comfortable and without pain.
She left this world with her husband by her side holding her hand, and with two of us close friends who stayed overnight there to be with them both in the immediate aftermath. We had been told by the hospice that she would likely pass away last night and we were able to say our goodbyes and shower her with love before she took her final sleep. We now need help with the cost of repatriation and memorial costs for her family in Iran.
Asrin today had a funeral at a mosque where over 80 people attended, a testament to the impact she has had on many in a short time. Four nurses from the hospice attended the washing ceremony, along with volunteers and staff from RAIS and St Thomas Church.
Asrin is now being looked after by an Islamic funeral repatriation team, who are working tirelessly to have her returned to her family in her county late on Friday night. This requires two cargo flights and a four hour drive by a repatriation team to get to the border crossing, where Asrin's family will be waiting, as they cannot exit their country due to visa and political issues.
The repatriation team have given a large discount for this speedy and complex repatriation to help grant Asrin's final wish. However, the total is already towards £4500 with some extra urgent work to get necessary documentation from her embassy to be invoiced additionally.
We would love to be able to meet this wish, which we are so close to managing, and be able to provide some funds to her family for the costs of a funeral and Asrin's burial in their country. Any help with reaching this goal would mean the world to her family and husband, all of whom are in an impossible difficult financial situation.
Asrin was an incredibly strong and intelligent woman who loved fashion, crotcheting, and rabbits. She has left this world too early and had to endure too much pain, and this sits heavy in our hearts, while we also find peace in her finally being released from such pain.
Asrin's husband has shown immense resilience, love, and care to her throughout her journey with cancer. Their connection lasted until her last breath and she left this world knowing how much he loved her.
A dear friend of her husband and volunteer at RAIS has become a brother to Asrin, has been at the couple's side throughout this difficult journey and visited them every day and night in the hospice. He has shown what true friendship and community means, and stepped in as a brother for Asrin at a time where she was far from family.
We can't put into words our gratitude for the staff at St John's Hospice. Asrin was treated with such kindness and respect, ensuring her dignity. They have been nothing short of angelic and we will never forget their kindness and sensitivity during this difficult and complicated time for Asrin and her husband, as ordinary Iranians suffer in a war.
We are also of course thinking constantly of Asrin's family who have lost her while so far away, and have had to brace for the worst news a person can received. We hope to get Asrin back to her homeland and family so they can begin to process this massive loss and find peace.
Be free and rest, lovely Asrin. It has been an absolute privilege.
To donate to help us reach our new goal of £7,000, please give here:
My name is Caitlin and I live in the North West. I am a friend of an amazi… Caitlin Cheshire needs your support for Grant Asrin's Final Wish To Be With Family
