“I expected the Hospice to be such a depressing place, but it’s not”
By Amanda Purdey.
Pat Will, my Mum, had fought off two bouts of cancer before she heard the devastating news that she had terminal cancer in the womb The only good news was that Macmillan Nurse, Jim Pugh would be “there for her again”, and in the months that followed he was a constant support to her and the family. Karen, her elder daughter, came from her home in Australia, to help us care for Mum at home.
She started her regular visits to the Hospice’s Day Centre once or twice a week. From the very first visit, the family realised just what a fantastic place the Hospice is. They willingly arranged transport for Mum and she thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the time that she spent there. Mum would often talk about the lovely people she had met, both patients and staff. “There is always someone worse off – but I got him smiling before I left”. Then she would come home laden with craft items that she had made with pride, prizes won in the raffle and importantly her own fighting spirit and great enthusiasm for her next visit.
We then received further devastating news that Karen had been diagnosed with breast cancer, so she returned to Australia to be with her family and start her treatment.
As Mum’s health deteriorated she moved into Hospice In-Patient ward. I can recall my first visit to see Mum there and not the Day-Centre. I expected to find it a sad and depressing place. Instead I found it to be such a happy environment, where I was made to feel so welcome and it was clear that nothing was too much trouble when it came to making Mum feel comfortable and as happy as possible. Mum always took a pride in her appearance, and I can remember how thrilled she would be when one of the volunteers would call into her room and ‘give her a manicure and a make-over’.
The Hospice were also fantastic about keeping Mum’s son, Jeremy, in Manchester, and Karen informed in Australia. Due to the time difference, Karen would often ring at 3am and the nurses were only too pleased to speak to her. Just days before Mum died, they also arranged a webcam link to Australia, so that Mum could actually see Karen from her bed. “ How do I talk to her, she’s in Australia?” but she did, and it meant so much to them both.
I still pop into the Hospice from time to time, because although Mum died there, I have so many special memories of my visits to Mum, which will always stay with me. Thank you all.
