When Jim came to the hospice on Christmas Day, his wife, Sue, breathed a sigh of relief knowing they would both get the help they needed.
‘Jim loved Christmas. We made lots of happy memories spending it with friends and family over the years. His family loved a party, and Jim insisted we always had to have lights up in our sitting room - something I still do now.’
Jim spent his final Christmas at the Community Hospice, where Sue was able to stay by his side until the end.
‘Jim was getting less and less well and so I called the hospice and told them I didn’t know what to do and they advised that Jim could be admitted that day. From there everything was looked after for us - the doctor on duty even stayed after their shift ended to welcome Jim in.
There was a distinct difference to Jim at home where he’d been agitated and not himself, to when he got to the hospice. There he relaxed, which meant I could relax too. He knew he was supported.
He had a private room with an ensuite bathroom. The space gave us the ability to spend time together, listen to music, and not have to think about other people around us. We were able to have private time whilst knowing there were people there to do the things I couldn’t do, and to give him the best care possible.
Having our own space meant our goddaughter could visit freely, and that I could be comfortable too – I could put my PJs on, use the loo nearby, and get in the recliner to sleep next to Jim. I can’t imagine what it would have been like not to have that privacy.
On the day he died the staff came in at 6am and washed him and made him comfortable. I went back to sleep next to him and when I woke up, he’d gone.
The nurses talked me through everything and gave me a cup of tea and some breakfast – they cared for me as well as Jim throughout. They explained there was no rush for me to leave, I could stay as long as I wanted, and so I got to spend a little more time with him.
Dying isn’t a nice thing to face. But the hospice gave both of us the best experience we could have had, and I just want other people to be able to have the same. If I won the lottery, I’d give it all to the hospice’s ward refurbishment project for that reason.’
