“I didn’t realise just how homely and comfortable the hospice is and how caring and compassionate the doctors and nurses would be.”
My mum was initially diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and she was going to have an operation to fit a stoma. When she was operated on, the surgeons could see that in fact she had cancer, cancer of the gall bladder and there was nothing they could do, it was terminal.
Mum came home for 2 weeks and then went back into hospital for a further 4 weeks. During her stay in hospital the nurses suggested that she could be transferred to the Hospice where her pain could be managed better by specialist palliative care nurses.
Being told your mum should go to a hospice is quite scary but my mum was very happy about coming. I lost my dad to cancer four years ago, he died in hospital – mum thought it would be better for me and she was right. I am 26 and have three children and as much as I would have liked to care for mum at home, I don’t think I would have been able to manage.
I had no experience of Hospice care and wasn’t too sure what to expect. I knew mum would be well cared for but I didn’t realise just how homely and comfortable the hospice is and how caring and compassionate the doctors and nurses would be.
For those last few months I spent all day, nearly every day at the Hospice with mum and really got to know the staff and volunteers – it feels like one big family. My children liked coming to visit their grandma and it helped that they enjoyed playing ping-pong in the games room. My brother and mum’s friend Michelle often stayed over in the family overnight room, they also commented and appreciated how well staff look after and involve them too.
Unfortunately my mum’s condition deteriorated quickly and we knew she was near the end of her life. The nurses offered me and my children bereavement counselling at the Linden Centre.
I am so pleased we’ve been able to be benefit from Trinity’s care.
