Jayne Game’s mother Pearl was first referred to Isabel after she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

“We were told she only had about three months to live and there was nothing more they could do except keep her comfortable,” Jayne said. “The Hospice was suggested to help sort out her medication, but Mum absolutely refused at first. She was frightened that she wouldn’t ever come out. But, once I’d explained to her what the Hospice wanted to do, she was more open to the idea and in the end she stayed in the In-Patient Unit for a week.

“The quality of the care was so much better than what we’d experienced up until that point and Mum felt safe and cared for. I visited her every day and was able to stay for as long as I wanted. We were able to take her outside for little walks around the garden and they even cooked her a steak dinner after telling them it was her favourite food.

“When she had been in hospital I was constantly worried about her, but with the Hospice all that anxiety and stress lifted. Her every need was met.”

Isabel continued to care for Pearl when she was discharged, with our Hospice at Home team supporting the family alongside our Clinical Nurse Specialists.

“I wanted Mum to be part of every moment we still had together so we transformed half of our front room into a bedroom for her. I barely left her side for those last three months; she wanted me to be close by all the time, and she was right at the centre of our family life until the day she passed away.

“Not having the Hospice involved to support us all doesn’t bear thinking about. I would have struggled and Mum wouldn’t have had the care that she needed and deserved. It made all of our lives easier at such a difficult time, and I knew they were only ever a text or phone call away if we needed them.

“The bereavement counselling after Mum passed away has been really helpful in helping to process everything that has happened, and it’s been reassuring to still have that link to the Hospice, like a safety net ready to catch us if we need it.

“My mum was so loved and I’m just so grateful and thankful that the Hospice was there when we needed them.”