Jason had just one wish

When 43-year-old Zuzana from Greenwich met Jason, 45, in 2018, neither of them knew that a first date at a concert would lead to eight years of love, laughter and adventure. Both had been through divorces and were looking for a fresh start. They quickly discovered a shared love of music, travelling and making the most of life together.

"We did a lot of things together," Zuzana says. "Concerts became one of our things."

Life carried on much as they had imagined until April 2024, when everything changed.

A diagnosis that changed everything

One afternoon, Jason called Zuzana from home. Something strange had happened. He had woken up bruised and couldn't explain why.

Concerned, they went to A&E to get him checked over. What seemed like a routine hospital visit quickly became something much bigger. Just three days later, Jason was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

"We were trying to work out what had happened, and then suddenly we were facing a brain tumour diagnosis," says Zuzana. "It was a very strange way for everything to begin."

Holding on to normal life

Despite everything, Jason continued to find joy in everyday moments - travelling, meeting friends and family, attending concerts, playing guitar. In summer 25, they welcomed a puppy called Monty into their lives.

"We thought it would give Jason something nice to focus on," says Zuzana.

The little dog quickly became part of the family, giving Jason purpose, companionship and a daily routine at a time when so much felt out of his control. But by autumn 2025, Jason's condition had deteriorated significantly. After spending several weeks in hospital, conversations turned towards end-of-life care.

One wish

For Jason, one thing was clear. He wanted to be at home. It was where he felt most comfortable and Zuzana wanted that too.

"I knew it wasn't going to be very long and I wanted him at home."

Making that happen wasn't straightforward. Furniture had to be moved. Medical equipment needed to be fitted into a small living space. Plans had to be put in place quickly. But with support from healthcare professionals and Community Hospice, they made it work. Soon, Jason was home.

More than care

When people hear the word hospice, they often think of a building. For Zuzana and her daughters, hospice care became something much more personal. Carers visited three times a day and quickly became part of everyday life.

What stood out wasn't just the care they provided, but the way they supported the couple.

Even as Jason became less responsive, they continued talking to him, joking with him and treating him as the person he had always been.

They helped him shave, they helped him choose what to wear, they remembered the things that mattered to him.

"They would ask, 'Should we give you your blue t-shirt today?' or 'Should we put your guitar socks on?'" Zuzana recalls. Small acts of kindness helped preserve Jason's dignity and individuality right until the end.

"The way they treated him was just so beautiful."

Support for Jason and for Zuzana

As Jason's condition progressed, Community Hospice also became a source of support for Zuzana. Caring for someone you love at the end of their life can be overwhelming.

Through the hospice's social work and counselling support, she found someone who would listen, offer guidance and help her navigate the challenges she was facing.

"It was beautiful to be able to talk to somebody who wasn't my friend, somebody independent, who understood how I might be feeling. The hospice provided me with a community of people I could rely on and connect with. The carers who visited three times a day became such a familiar and comforting presence in our home. They would welcome Monty's eager jumping and tail wagging with laughter. They would ask how our daughters were doing and what they were up to, what I was cooking, and how work was going. They were interested in how Lily's birthday and my birthday went, which we both celebrated at home with Jason. They just became part of our life."

At a time when so much felt uncertain, their kindness, guidance and support helped ensure neither Zuzana nor Jason had to face the journey alone.

There when it mattered most

Jason died at home, where he wanted to be. Surrounded by familiar things. Surrounded by love. Looking back now, Zuzana believes Community Hospice helped make an incredibly difficult journey more manageable.

"The dignity and care Jason received while being able to stay at home was really important."

She knows many people are frightened when hospice care is first mentioned. But her experience was very different from what she expected.

"As much as it's acknowledging that someone is coming to the end of their life, hospice care provides a dignified way of getting there."

For Zuzana, Community Hospice wasn't just about end of life care. It was about guidance, companionship and dignity. And making sure neither she nor Jason had to face the journey alone.