Our Living Well with Isabel therapy services focus on supporting your emotional wellbeing, as well as your physical wellness, offering care, comfort and confidence when you most need our help.

Retired registration admin officer Janet Howe turned to the Hospice after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in June 2021. At the time she reached out to us, the 74-year-old said she had sunk into a very dark place, but the Hospice’s support has been transformative.

“Immediately after I was given the diagnosis, it was like the lights went out,” she said. “I was told I had about three months to live and then I disappeared into the [NHS] system and heard nothing for 10 weeks. 

“All I knew was my case was being passed from one team to another and I didn’t understand why. I felt really unwanted.”

Janet, a grandmother of five, kept her diagnosis and the emotional toll it was having on her to herself in a bid to protect her husband, Mike. Her three sons were better able to cope with the news and began to suggest a few practical ways of support.   

Eventually though, after reaching her lowest ebb, Janet plucked up the courage to contact the Hospice.

“I’m one of these people who is always protecting others and I convinced myself I had to stay strong, but in reality I was absolutely desperate,” she said. “I wasn’t being open with my emotions to anybody and I felt completely lost. 

“It was honestly the worst time of my life. I tried desperately hard to be strong, to think about the future but I didn’t know where to turn. Then out of the blue I decided to ring Isabel Hospice.”

Janet spoke to Gail, one of our Clinical Nurse Specialists, who visited her at home to speak to her and Mike about what had been happening. “Most people think the Hospice is the last resort. It’s where people go to die. That was my thought, but goodness me how wrong was I.

“Gail explained to us that it wasn’t about giving up, or admitting defeat, but learning to make the very best use of the very last second we have together. It was such a positive message.”

Janet, who lives in Tewin, was invited to attend our eight-week Living Well with Isabel wellbeing course at our Hall Grove hub in Welwyn Garden City as well as a course of complementary therapy. 

“First of all, I was able to meet other people in the same position as myself. And far from feeling sorry for ourselves we had a chat and a laugh. It started to feel like normal life again and made me realise this is what I wanted. 

“My life has been a really happy, joyful one and I didn’t want it to end in this shadow. The Hospice showed me I still had a life to live, I still had something to give and I could create something new even at this stage of my life. 

“I really appreciated being able to ask direct questions – things that would be unspeakable in day-to-day life because we are all so afraid to speak about the end of life. I got honest answers and nobody ever glossed over anything. They gave me the truth, which is what I wanted, so I could come to terms with things in my own way.”

Janet, a former nursery school head teacher, said the things she has learned from attending the wellbeing course have spilled out into other aspects of her life.

“It really has been life-changing and I’m so thankful for that. I live in a village and it’s given me the confidence to widen my social circle and make new friends. I’ve started a knitting group on a Monday morning at our local pub where very little knitting gets done because we’re too busy having such outrageous fun.

“None of that would have happened if it weren’t for Isabel Hospice shining a light in a very dark place. They’ve shown me there is still fun to be had and gave me the support I needed to get back out there and start enjoying life again. That was such an important lesson and I’m so glad I had the courage to phone up that day.  

“The cancer rarely gets a thought these days, it’s not on my mind because other things have replaced it. I’m too busy living my life. I’m looking forward to the spring and making plans for the future. Every day presents an opportunity and I’m determined to seize it.”