Smiley’s story

Our patient has requested anonymity in sharing her story, and her request has been respected.

“Hospice has always been close to my heart but I just didn’t understand what happens. When I was having a lot of pain the nurses said that I should come up to stay, but I thought I was coping – I wasn’t. Everything turned to custard one Monday and that was a breakthrough. I came up to Hospice on the Tuesday to get the pain under control and was amazed at how almost overnight, so much of it subsided. Every day it gets just that bit better. I thought I would be in at the Hospice for just a couple of days but there for eight days before going back home.”

She says that staying at the inpatient unit for eight days was a bit of surprise, but notes, “It made me feel good. I’m used to running around doing things but up there, I felt like I was a lady! Everything was done for me! When they were with me it felt like I was the only person they were caring for, the only one here.”

Returning home, she still has her independence with the support of Hospice and says “They’re just at the end of the phone. It doesn’t matter how stupid the question is, they don’t make you feel as though it is a stupid question. They explain to you what’s happening and give you advice on what you can do. They also work with your GP so there is a circle of care and everyone is kept in the loop.

“Explaining things to you in terms you can understand. You might wonder why something is happening and they can help you understand what it is and why it’s going on.” She tells me that she feels less anxious about things because she knows she has Hospice’s support, just a phone call away… “You know within yourself when something’s not right. It’s scary. They’ve encouraged me to get on to things straight away and not be stubborn and let them go on.”

In summing up how she feels about Hospice the comment is: “It’s paradise. It’s where you don’t have to worry about everything. That worry is taken away. It’s easier to try and make sense of things. It means you are able to live with it, and enjoy each day for as long as you can. I know I can ring the nurses and someone can come and have a talk with me. At times, I feel like there’s no-one else I’d rather talk to. It puts my mind at rest. It makes me feel safe.”