12 Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice
“OUR FAMILY WASN’T ALONE – THANKS TO THE HOSPICE”
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Ellis Belcher, from Sidcup, Kent, will be running the London Marathon in October 2022 in aid of Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice after we cared for her grandparents Victor and Pauline Belcher.
he couple had been married for The Hospice were involved with Victor’s over 60 years and were 79 and 81 care from the beginning. The hospice when they sadly died. The whole community team cared for him largely at Belcher family had been involved home before he died in November 2019, in caring for them, including their also helping the family to have equipment, daughter, Ellis’ Aunt Lesley. Here Ellis and including a clinical recliner chair, delivered Lesley explain what a difference support to keep him comfortable there for as long as from the hospice made to them at a very possible. difficult time. Ellis explains: “Granddad went into the “I was really close to my grandparents,” hospice three days before he died. By this Ellis says. “I did show-jumping as a child and stage the hospice at home carers were Granddad was my biggest coming out on regular visits supporter. He was a retired and had some important London black cab driver conversations with him and a real character.” which we appreciated. “I used to go to Nan with Granddad wanted to all my problems. Nan and understand what was Grandad were always there going to happen.” for me and my sister Jerrie.” “The hospice also gave “When Granddad was my Nan amazing support diagnosed with pancreatic at a very difficult time. She cancer in July 2019 it was felt relief that Granddad a real shock. The only sign received such good care that something was wrong and it helped us knowing was that he’d lost some that she wasn’t on her Pauline and Victor weight. His GP arranged for own. At the end of his some blood tests and he life, he was peaceful and was diagnosed with stage 4 contented at the hospice.” cancer. Granddad was told that there was The day after Victor died, Pauline sadly fell nothing really that could be done.” over in her garden and broke her arm. She “At first I couldn’t believe it. We’d only had went to stay with Lesley, and never went a 60th wedding anniversary party for them home. weeks earlier. They’d received a letter from “The hospice staff were so reassuring,” the Queen.” Lesley recalls. “Mum wasn’t sleeping
