As a practicing artist with a love for acrylics and contemporary painting, it was a natural pairing between Ruth Ward and our Living Well with Isabel services.

Ruth volunteered for Isabel Hospice for many years, assisting with our art therapy groups and going the extra mile to help make a difference to the people in our care. Following her own cancer diagnosis, Ruth was then able to turn to Isabel Hospice for care and support.

Ruth first became aware of Isabel Hospice services through a close friend of hers, who had breast cancer and was visiting the Living Well with Isabel Community Hub. Discovering the positive impact that the classes and sessions were having on her friend’s life and wellbeing.

Ruth was herself diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. She underwent treatment and courses of chemotherapy which successfully put her in remission. This planted the seed for her passion to want to make a positive change in other people’s lives as, after experiencing the difference it had made in her own, Ruth said “I wanted to volunteer because during my own cancer journey, the volunteers [in the hospitals] when I was receiving treatment helped me so much just by giving me their time, it made such a difference.”

Three years later Ruth signed up to volunteer as an art therapy assistant, she said “The art classes helped people to talk without feeling the pressure of traditional therapy. It creates a space and leads to people talking and sharing their experience in a calm environment.”

Volunteering once a week with the then art therapist, Deborah, Ruth said: “She was amazing and would encourage patients, even if they weren’t sure. People in the classes would say ‘my art teacher told me I was no good’ but once they did the sessions, they’d be so amazed at what they could do.”

Ruth went on to volunteer for five years until the pandemic in 2020, just prior to this in 2019, Ruth joined the craft team of three dedicated volunteers, who had all been helping to run the group for many years.  

Ruth said “I enjoyed working alongside the dedicated team of Francoise, Judy and Lawrence, a skilled carpenter who made bird boxes for people to paint and decorate. I had not done crafts myself before, so I was learning as well”. It was joint sessions like these that led her to develop friendships with other volunteers that Ruth still shares to this day.

During her time as a volunteer Ruth brought so much positive change to Isabel Hospice, not only through her work in helping to run the sessions but also being part of projects like the mural painting in the Sanctuary room at our In-Patient Unit and art canvases that can be found on the walls of the Living Well Community Hub.

In 2022 Ruth’s illness had developed to stage four and was confirmed to be incurable. Ruth shared this with Living Well Services manager, Karen Bell, who warmly welcomed Ruth to revisit the Living Well Hub and make use of the service through the classes and therapy treatments available.

At first, Ruth shared it was a strange experience to transition from being a volunteer to a patient. Nevertheless, she regularly started to attend the Reiki, Tai Chi classes and art therapy group, sharing that “they [the sessions] are so peaceful, and I always feel better afterwards.”

Ruth continued to always have a heart to give back. Whilst attending a group session in 2023, she observed the sink in the corner of the Living Well Hub conservatory, she said “I noticed that the sink in the corner looked ancient, that it regularly made annoying dripping sounds. So, I got in touch with Wickes in Welwyn Garden City, asking if they would be kind enough to donate a new sink unit to Isabel Hospice, to my surprise, they said yes, I was so pleased!” Wickes provided a brand-new, wheelchair-friendly sink unit and cupboards which is now a permanent feature that will always be a reminder of the incredible people, like Ruth, that find their way to Isabel Hospice.

Reflecting on her experiences with Isabel Hospice, Ruth shared that even though it has been a challenge to go from assisting in the sessions as a volunteer, to now being a participant, this has never taken away from how worthwhile they are.

Speaking about the Living Well with Isabel team, Ruth said “they offer me amazing support, they are always there when I need them, which makes it so worthwhile”.

Thinking of the future, as part of her advance care planning, Ruth shared that she would like to spend her final days on the Isabel Hospice In-Patient Unit, being so familiar with In-Patient Unit and the team there. Making these plans has brought her great comfort when thinking about her end-of-life care.

Ruth has created such a lasting impact on Isabel Hospice, the donation of her time and her determination to better the experience for service users are both things that will be celebrated for many years to come. Isabel Hospice are so fortunate to have volunteers like Ruth and to have had the privilege of providing her care.