North Devon Hospice Autumn/Winter Newsletter 2022

Demand for our care is increasing, fast. Patients are younger and have more complex care needs. Donations have dramatically dropped. Your support is needed, donate today at northdevonhospice.org.uk

hospice update your

A/W

Hospice nurse, Gary, has been a lifeline for Richard at such a difficult time

A new lease of life, all thanks to you

Richard has a tumour in his chest, which restricts his breathing and leaves him reliant on seven litres of oxygen every minute. But thanks to his hospice nurse, Gary, he has found a new lease of life.

“

For the first time since my diagnosis, I felt like someone genuinely listened to me and wanted to understand how comfortable I felt,” said Richard.

“I had a lot of pain in my shoulder due to the tumour and wasn’t sleeping, but Gary has significantly reduced my pain, so I sleep much better now. Because of his support, I have been able to do some of the things I love again. It’s made a huge difference to me. I feel like

I have turned a corner because someone actually listened.”

He added: “There are lots of people involved when you have cancer, but with the hospice it felt like a really strong, personal connection from the beginning. You’re seen as an individual, they recognise you and treat you as a person and not an illness. I’m not ready to go anywhere just yet, but if my time is done, then I have no regrets. Because of the hospice, I’m not scared of it.”

Richard’s wife, Joanna, added:

“The hospice has changed our life. You can’t get this level of support anywhere else. It feels like they have opened the door for another, better life. It’s just amazing.”

I feel like I have turned a corner because someone actually listened. “ “

Richard’s hospice nurse, Gary, says: “His positive outlook is really inspiring. We want to be there every step of the way for Richard and his family, helping them make the most of every precious day, but we can only do that with your support. Your donations are needed now more than ever.”

The family’s main focus moving forward is around creating precious memories with each other and enjoying quality time together doing the things they love. With your support, the hospice can help make this possible.

With the help of the hospice, Richard is making the most of cherished time. This is all thanks to your support.

We’re facing

We’re seeing more patients who have been diagnosed late, and with more complex symptoms. This is a direct result of the pandemic.

“I recently cared for a local man in his forties, whose cancer was not picked up early enough so it had become terminal. That is nobody’s fault at all, it’s just another unseen consequence of the pandemic.

“Our hospice nurses are stretched about as far as we can go. We desperately want to support everyone who needs us, but the demand for our care has never been higher. It’s important for the wider community to know the situation facing your hospice.”

The demand for our care is definitely going up. We want to make each day count, to create precious memories and for

Lin Lin Andrea Charlie Angie Andrea

Community Care Team Lead

Counsellor Hospice to Home Team

Bedded Unit Nurse

Community Care Team Lead

Bedded Unit Nurse

“

“

Everything is going up, including the number of people who need our care

unprecedented challenges

people to spend their days in comfort without pain. But we need your support to do this. A girl I went to school with recently came to the Bedded Unit with terminal cancer. While initially it was a shock, I loved spending quality time with her and helping to make those days special, like when her dog came to visit and brought the biggest smile to her face. It’s moments like that which make life worthwhile, and we want to bring that to everyone we care for.”

Angie Hospice to Home Team

This is the most demanding time in my 10 years with the Hospice to Home Team.

“However, it’s an absolute privilege to support people in these uncertain times. Just this week, we made a rapid intervention to keep a man in his own home, as he desperately didn’t want to go into hospital.

We made him comfortable, helping with his pain and some other issues. It made such a difference, and his family were so relieved. We’d love to do the same for everyone who needs us, but we need donations to the hospice to increase to make this possible.”

“They’re anxious about the strain on our health service after Covid. Patients who have had to stop working are worried about how they will heat their homes this winter.

“People arrive with us overwhelmed by emotion, in various stages of denial, anger, bargaining. We help them find acceptance, to live as well as they can in the time they have left, but we are holding a much higher caseload of people who need support. We’re working very hard to meet people’s needs and your support is more important than ever.”

The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis are having a huge effect on the patients and families we’re supporting.

Beautiful moments

Lucy, aged just 36, spent a month at the hospice for pain control. She had terminal bowel cancer. Wanting to make the most of every moment, our Bedded Unit Team arranged a special pamper session for Lucy and her mum, thanks to volunteer therapists from nearby Salon @Sixty-Five. It was priceless mother-and-daughter time, where they enjoyed a relaxing facial, manicure and massage. Tranquil time spent together.

During the massage, Lucy said: “The pain in my leg has eased so much. It’s

Your support makes beautiful moments happen, when they matter most. A donation today will help create more precious memories, which make the world of difference to people like Lucy and her mum, Desri.

the most relaxed I’ve felt in a very long time.”

Both mum and daughter said that they felt quite emotional during the treatments and didn’t realise how much they needed the escapism that the pamper afternoon had allowed.

Stacey, one of the wonderful therapists who helped make this possible, said: “Human touch brings comfort, support and a degree of kindness - more so than you may realise. It doesn’t take much from the person giving it, but can make a huge difference to the ones who receive it. This is why we love helping at the hospice so much. A simple act from us can mean so much to those who need it the most.”

Lucy died in June at the hospital, where she again received excellent care.

Desri shared some words in memory of her daughter, to thank the North Devon Hospice nurses and volunteer therapists for creating a haven for them both.

“

Thank you for a very special pamper session at the hospice. It was a wonderful mum-and-daughter moment. The little things that people do to show they care, are the things that make the biggest difference.”

If you have a skill that could benefit our patients and families, please get in touch. Call 01271 344248