“The hospice rescued us.”

After her husband was cared for by our charity, Gaynor has supported our fundraising events and is starting a new role as a volunteer in our reception. She shared with us why our hospice means so much to her.

“Adrian served as a police officer for 27 years and after retiring at 53, he had big plans for us for the future – including buying a motorhome so we could travel. We spent a wonderful year touring before he became unwell.”

In late 2021, Adrian was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and underwent major surgery and chemotherapy. For a time he recovered and was able to enjoy life again, but the cancer sadly returned after Christmas 2022.

Coming to our hospice

And that’s when our hospice came into their lives. At first, Adrian and Gaynor were very unsure about the idea of hospice care.

“We were like, ‘Oh blooming heck, what’s all this about?’ explains Gaynor. The suggestion hit Adrian like a steam train. It took the legs from under us.”

But everything changed when Palliative Care Nurse Specialist Maggie got in touch.

Gaynor told us: “Maggie started to dispel our fears straightaway. “She explained that palliative care isn’t just about the end of life – it’s about managing symptoms and making the most of the time you have.”

After a difficult operation, Adrian was in a lot of pain. Maggie visited at home, assessed him, and arranged for a short stay with us for pain and symptom management.

“He wasn’t eating and was very low,” said Gaynor. “But the hospice staff really sorted his pain out. They were fantastic.”

Adrian spent two weeks at the hospice, where he met another patient who quickly became a friend. They hit it off immediately and were able to share experiences and support one another.

Once Adrian’s pain was under control, he was able to go home but continued receiving one-to-one support from our specialist doctors and joined our wellbeing programme. The sessions helped Adrian with symptom management and relaxation. They also gave the couple a chance to connect with others in similar situations.

“The doctors were amazing,” said Gaynor. “We could call them any time if we had concerns. You just don’t get that kind of support elsewhere.”

The difference our care makes

“From where he was to where he got to with their help was a massive change,” said Gaynor.

“It completely changed our minds about hospices.

“I don’t think we would have coped without them. Before Maggie rang, we felt like we’d been hit by a bomb, and we just didn’t know what to do, who to ring, what direction to go in.

“The hospice rescued us and allowed us the privilege of enjoying Adrian’s last months together.

“We went from desperately wanting it all to end to planning a holiday.

“That’s why I support them now. They helped Adrian and me through the hardest time, and it feels right to stay connected to such a special place.”