Family is at the heart of everything we do here at Isabel Hospice because we know how important it is to the people we care for to be able to spend precious time together when a loved one is nearing the end of their life.
This Mother’s Day, one devoted daughter has shared how she was able to stay by her beloved mum’s side when she passed away after being given one of the additional beds made available on our In-Patient Unit during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Anita Smith’s mother Dee was transferred to us after the 75-year-old, who had heart failure and dementia, contracted coronavirus during a hospital stay and was therefore unable to return to her nursing home.
Anita, who works here at the Hospice as our family support administrator, said her mum spent nine peaceful days in the In-Patient Unit before she died holding her daughter and granddaughter’s hands – an experience Anita knows would not have been possible if Dee had remained on the hospital’s Covid ward.
“In the two weeks Mum was in hospital, I was allowed in once to see her for 15 minutes,” Anita said. “During her last few days at the Hospice, I was able to stay with her 24/7, and then at the end immediate family were allowed to join me. I’m under no illusion that had she died in hospital without us even being able to see her, let alone be by her side, it would have been horrendous.
“Having that time to be with her, and being able to spend the night, was so special. It’s how Mum would have wanted to die, with me by her side, and that was made possible by the Hospice.
“Without the Hospice nurses by our side, it would have been so much harder. But, I got to say goodbye to Mum in the perfect way.”
