Isabel Hospice Care News Winter 2022

Simons Story

No-one should have to face terminal illness alone.

Andy takes charge

She’s been a familiar face on our In-Patient Unit (IPU) for the past three years. Here, Andy Kilduff, our Acting Director of Clinical Services, shares what it is like to head our amazing clinical team.

“I joined the Hospice in June 2019 as Head of IPU Services. This role enabled me to be part of an outstanding team delivering care to patients, their relatives and carers in eastern Hertfordshire.

“My nursing career started in 1989, when I was fortunate enough to be a Nursing Auxiliary in my local hospital. Fast forward many years in the NHS as a healthcare assistant and I qualified as a Registered Nurse in 2011, taking my first staff nurse role in oncology.

“I always had a passion for palliative care and my role as an oncology nurse made me realise that this was the direction I wanted to go in. My next staff nurse role took me to a hospice, which I loved and was able to develop my career there. I was a junior sister for a year and then moved into a senior sister position, running the hospice day services.

“Unfortunately, the hospice closed and I found myself in a senior management position back in oncology, but knew that this would be short term as my love for hospice care was never far from my thoughts. In 2019, the Head of IPU Services role at Isabel Hospice was advertised and I was lucky to be successful, joining an amazing team delivering outstanding palliative care for all.

“Three years later, I was asked to be the Acting Director of Clinical Services due to our clinical director taking some time off. I was extremely honoured to be asked to step up into this position by Helen Glenister, our CEO, and have spent the last nine months learning from those around me and developing my skills and knowledge. The role is very varied and I have enjoyed working alongside all the teams, learning from each and every member of staff what their role is and how this impacts on the people we care for.

“I have also had the opportunity to be involved more closely with our external stakeholders, ensuring that Isabel Hospice is heard and our message is getting out. It is extremely important to me that we have a voice, and that our services continue to develop and are sustained in the years to come to benefit all of those who need us. To everyone who has – or is – supporting Isabel Hospice, thank you. It really does make a difference.”

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I always had a passion for palliative care.

Welcome to the Winter edition of Care News

December for most of us is a time for happiness and togetherness, the giving and receiving of presents and looking ahead to the start of a new year.

However, for those who have been told they have a life-limiting illness, or have recently lost someone important to them, it can be a difficult time of year. This winter, the cost-of-living crisis is also bringing additional worry and stress.

The festive season is a special time for us at the Hospice, as we reflect on the year that has passed, and think about all the wonderful people that our special way of caring has brought us into contact with.

It is also a time when we give thanks to those who make what we do possible by supporting our charity. As ever, we are truly humbled by the ongoing contribution of our local community.

We may not be able to extend the time that our patients have left, but with your continued generosity we can support them to live well for as long as possible by offering as much love, comfort and joy as we can in their final months, weeks or days.

As another year draws to a close, I would like to sincerely thank you for your enduring support for our charity as we look ahead to 2023. Our caring work continues because of you.

Caring is a family affair

Did you know that our care extends to the relatives and friends of the people we look after?

Our counsellors Pola Long, Shivani Sidapra and Anne Thompson are here for our patients and carers, both pre and post-bereavement. They also support and advise our placement counsellors along with Anita Smith, our Family Support operational lead.

For those staying in our In-Patient Unit, our assistant chaplain Pauline Hayes and IPU counsellor Fiona Brown are always on hand along with our placement chaplain Tina Wilson. They are also there to support our staff with debriefs when needed.

Our adult therapy craft group has been running every Monday morning since October at our Living Well with Isabel hub in Welwyn Garden City. Led by Anne, this is open to patients and carers to attend, offering different crafts for all to enjoy. We hope to start a new group in Bishop’s Stortford early next year.

Our bereavement service continues to be supported by our dedicated volunteer support workers, who worked all through the Covid pandemic. Our placement counsellors, currently in their final years of training, will remain with us for a couple of years supporting bereaved family members.

Our award-winning Children’s Service continues to go from strength to strength under the co-ordination of Buddhika Arachchige. The CATS (Children and Teens Service) supports youngsters aged five to 11 years old who have lost a loved one and we run a pre and post-bereavement Feelings and Sounds group for those aged eight and above. These run alongside our arts and creativity groups and mindfulness sessions.

With warmest wishes

CEO, Isabel Hospice

Helen Glenister

Simon’s Story

Without people like you, we would

like Simon Cartwright, the only person in the UK under 50 years old to have squamous cell carcinoma of the sinus, an

rare form of facial cancer.

Here is Simon’s story.

“I was diagnosed with a rare squamous cell carcinoma five years ago, at the age of 37. During the following 4 years, I underwent countless major surgeries, some lasting over 10 hours, huge amounts of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and cyber knife radiotherapy. Each time the cancer would be halted for a short period of time but within a few months, it always came back. Following my last course of chemotherapy in December 2022, the cancer was deemed to be controllable rather than curable. It was at this point that I was put in contact with Ria at Isabel Hospice to help me with pain and symptom management.

My cancer is so rare that they’d never seen a case like mine before.

At the time, the term ‘palliative care’ was hard to stomach. It felt like the beginning of the end, but I agreed as I knew that I needed some help with the pain if I was going to be able to maintain a quality of life with my wife and our 2 young children.

“I met Ria, who came out to our house and she was just fantastic. Within a few days my pain was much better controlled and I was able to enjoy Christmas with my family, which at this stage of my diagnosis was incredibly important to me. My cancer is so rare that they’d never seen a case like mine before, but they put together a plan and for a while, it worked. But then came a period when the pain relief wasn’t working, so Ria spoke to me about becoming an in-patient for a short while so they could watch over me 24/7 and try some different things. Once again, this was game changing and very quickly I was back on an even keel – even able to enjoy a trip on the Eurostar to Belgium for a few days over half term, something that a few weeks previously wouldn’t have been possible.

“Coming to the Hospice that first time just blew me away. When you think of a hospice, you think about the last few days of your life. But it’s so much more than that. From the doctors to the healthcare assistants, to the volunteers, they all work as one, and every single person is incredible.

“A few weeks ago, I was at home and had a huge bleed and was very close to the end. We called the district nurses and they couldn’t stop it, so they called an ambulance and I was taken to Harlow hospital and then Broomfield in Chelmsford, but no-one really knew what to do. In the end, I discharged myself and was able to come to the inpatient unit, where the people all knew me and were able to help solve the problem.

“To me, it highlighted that if the Hospice didn’t exist, my pain relief and symptom management would be placed elsewhere, with people who don’t have the same level of expertise. This cancer has destroyed half of my face – just imagine that with no pain relief. At Isabel, there is freedom to act as they see fit; if they have an idea then they can try it and you get the sense they all think about it in their sleep. It’s impossible to think how I’d go on without their incredible care and support. If it wasn’t available, I would have given up a long time ago.

“They’ve also been brilliant with my two children, Izzy and Rupert, as well as supporting my wife, Sarah. I miss them all desperately when I’m here, it’s the hardest part, but if I was in hospital, I’d barely get to see them at all. Visiting hours would be limited to 2-4pm, and I couldn’t bear that. The children can come here whenever they want to and are loved by everyone. Every member of staff here knows my family and there’s something a bit special about that. Everyone always goes the extra mile to help create special times for us as a family and nothing is too much trouble. We have all received counselling support from the team at Isabel which has been invaluable to all of us. I am spending more and more time at the inpatient unit, as the nature of my cancer is very unpredictable and whilst nothing beats being in your own bed, nothing also beats feeling safe, secure and well looked after by an incredible group of people at what is such a difficult time for all of us.

“I cried when palliative care was first mentioned to me, but my whole understanding of what that actually means, and the difference it can make, has completely turned around. Hospices are not just places to die, although people do come here for their final days, and all being well, I will too. Despite my situation, I live in hope, that’s how I exist these days, and Isabel allows me to have that mindset.”

not be able to care for people

incredibly

Pain and symptom control, we are more than just a building

Patients are admitted to Isabel Hospice not only for end-of-life care, but also symptom control.

We often admit people to our In-Patient Unit who have been struggling at home to control their symptoms, such as pain or nausea. Even with specialist intervention at home from our Community Team, sometimes it is felt to be more appropriate to bring them to us so they can be thoroughly assessed and their medication regime closely monitored.

When patients are taking certain types of strong analgesia (medications specifically designed to relieve pain, such as opioids and neuropathic pain relief), it is deemed safer to do this in a safe and controlled environment like our IPU, where the patient can be closely monitored and the effectiveness of the medicine reviewed.

We use pain charts to monitor our patients’ pain levels, empowering them to take an active part in their care. For those with cognitive impairment or reduced consciousness, we use the Abbey Pain Scale, an assessment tool which gives us an indication of their level of pain so we can act accordingly to help reduce this.

In addition to pharmacological intervention in IPU, we offer complementary therapies such as reflexology, massage and Reiki. Our therapists also teach relaxation techniques, which can be of huge benefit.

Some patients, particularly the younger ones, can suffer with ‘total pain’, which encompasses emotional and spiritual pain. This can be very hard to resolve as these patients are often facing huge emotional distress, such as leaving young children behind.

Our IPU staff are trained in offering Level 2 psychological support alongside our Family Support Team, which consists of counselling and chaplaincy services. In the event that a person requires ‘extreme support’, they can be referred for Level 3 psychological support.

Delivering specialist care in the community

Ria has been an Isabel Hospice Clinical Nurse Specialist for two years, working in the community alongside GPs and District Nurses to provide specialist advice to patients who have a life-limiting illness.

With advanced knowledge of pain and symptom management designed to improve the quality of life for our patients, our CNSs undertake additional training to develop their clinical skills and expertise in order to support other healthcare professionals. Particularly when dealing with individuals with complex symptoms to ensure that their needs are met.

Ria, who previously worked at North Middlesex Hospital, joined the clinical team at Isabel Hospice as she wanted to gain palliative care experience both in a hospice and community setting.

“Since joining Isabel Hospice, I’ve developed my skills and completed various competencies which enable me to work as a specialist nurse carrying out extended roles. I manage my own caseload of patients and work closely with our local GP practices to ensure people have access to specialist palliative care at the point that they require it.

“This additional training includes having conversations around Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR). This is particularly important for patients who have advanced disease and the potential to deteriorate and end up being admitted to an acute hospital setting. This enables those who have expressed a wish to not be resuscitated to have a DNACPR order put in place in a timely manner.”

Ria has also recently started the NonMedical Prescribing course at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. Once completed, she will be qualified to

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Ria Delahunty-James Clinical Nurse Specialist

prescribe certain medications from a formulary, which enables patients to have speedier access to the right drugs to control their symptoms.

All of our CNSs are supported by Isabel’s education team, who are always seeking opportunities for our nurses to access training to further upskill as part of our vision of delivering outstanding palliative care for all.

“I love my job at Isabel because I’m fortunate to work with a wide range of experts who support and teach each other to offer the best service we can. The Hospice always encourages and supports further education and training in our specialist roles.

“I believe everyone should have access to excellent palliative and end-of-life care as death is something we will all face at some point in our lives.

If I can help patients and families have a positive experience at their most difficult time, then it’s all been worthwhile.”

Learning to live well at Isabel

Our Living Well with Isabel service empowers people who have an advanced or terminal illness to adapt their lives, with dignity, by helping them to anticipate and cope with changes resulting from deteriorating health.

Former youth worker and aspiring writer David Williams, 38, shares how being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour has transformed his outlook on life and why – with the support of our Living Well nurses and therapists – he is determined to make the most of the time he has left.

The dad-of-two said: “My diagnosis has given me a sense of clarity that I never had before. I can no longer afford to live on other people’s time and there’s a freedom to say how I feel, that is liberating.

“When I first made contact with the Hospice I wasn’t aware of all the services they offer. I initially signed up for the sixweek Wellbeing Course and I really enjoyed it.

“Everyone is really friendly and from the moment you come through the door you feel at ease. Everyone knows your name and who you are. You are not solely defined by your condition.

“When I first started experiencing signs that something might be wrong, being a single man I ignored them. Living on my own, there was no one there to ask if I was okay, or to tell me to do something about it. Here, you are made to feel that you are important, that you are a person who matters.

“Since coming here, I’ve had Shiatsu massage and reflexology and come along to the horticulture sessions and neurological support group. It keeps my brain active and gives me other things to think about and do. I don’t want to just sit indoors. For me now, every interaction has a purpose and I’m constantly thinking what can I take from this and what can I give to this. I’ve got a totally different outlook on life, how I interact with people and the energy I put out there.

“The conversations I am able to have here are helping me to make sense of life in a way I wasn’t before. It’s made me appreciative of the small things and it’s made me more comfortable with my end-of-life.”

To find out more on our supportive therapy services please visit isabelhospice.org.uk/supportive-therapy

Compassionate Communities

Good progress is being made towards our Compassionate Communities approach – building connected, confident and competent networks of people who come together, alongside health and social services, to support each other through the difficult times associated with loneliness, caring, deteriorating health, frailty, old age, dying and bereavement.

Our Compassionate Cafés in Bishop’s Stortford, Waltham Cross and Welwyn Garden City, as well as our 11 social meetups and Compassionate Neighbours support much-needed social interaction for those who are lonely or at risk of isolation across eastern Hertfordshire.

For the bereaved wanting to work through their loss alongside others going through similar experiences, we offer Grief Encounters, a six-week themed bereavement peer support course currently running in Bishop’s Stortford and Welwyn Garden City, and coming to Hoddesdon in 2023.

For anyone wanting help to talk about the issues related to end-of-life, whether for yourself or with your loved ones, then we encourage you to sign up to our free two-hour Start the Conversation online workshops.

For more details, see isabelhospice.org.uk/ what-we-do/ compassionate-communities

Caring and the cost-of-living crisis

The cost-of-living crisis is putting charities like ours under unprecedented pressure. With ever-increasing demand for our services, combined with the cost pressures associated with the rise in inflation, rocketing energy bills and fuel costs and a fall in donations, the very real and serious financial implications of the cost-of-living crisis are becoming a reality for our organisation.

Having come through the funding challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nick Gilbert, our Director of Income Generation and Marketing, explains why your support is more crucial than ever.

“In recent months, the rising cost-of-living has been affecting our community greatly.

“Our patients are seeing higher fuel costs, meaning that many may not be able to attend our rehabilitation and wellbeing care service at our Living Well hubs in Welwyn, Waltham Cross and Bishop’s Stortford.

“We are also expecting to see an increase in patients requiring the use of our In-Patient Unit as they are unable to afford to heat their own homes.

“Within the Hospice, we are seeing rising food costs associated with catering for our patients staying in our IPU as well as increased fuel costs for our staff visiting patients and their families across the communities of eastern Hertfordshire which we serve.

“Another key issue we are facing is the staffing shortages across the healthcare system and the need to pay competitive salaries in order to retain as many key workers as possible in these difficult times.

“Recent figures from Hospice UK show that hospices across the UK collectively now need to raise an additional £100 million to cover their costs.

“This equates to approximately £500,000 per hospice, putting a huge strain on our Hospice and others across the country.

“To recover this shortfall, we are pro-actively exploring new and different ways to raise funds. However, this is proving to be a challenge as our supporters are feeling the impact of rising costs too. Indeed, whilst the demand for our 15 shops and eBay site is growing in these economically challenging times, many people are choosing to hang onto potential donations of goods for longer.

“Despite the economic crisis currently unfolding, we remain committed to providing outstanding palliative care for every person within our community who needs it. However, the need for your support is greater than ever before if we are to expand our services to reach more families. That support can come in the form of goods, money or time through volunteering, and all are very much appreciated and help us enormously.

“We are immensely grateful to all our supporters who continue to help us in any way that you are able, big or small. Our motto ‘Together we care’ is now more pertinent than ever before.”

Compassionate care at Christmas time

Our care is available every day of the year, and Christmas is no exception. Our specialist doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and therapists work 365 days of the year, both at the In-Patient Unit and out in the community.

Last Christmas, our Hospice at Home team cared for Valerie Chinsky during the final days of her life. She passed away in our In-Patient Unit on January 8th.

Her daughter Susannah said: “Mum had been having chemo up until the end of November, but by December, she was getting so weak and we were struggling to get her to her appointments. Her consultant said he didn’t recommend continuing anymore and it was clear that the cancer was really taking hold.

“Mum was living with us and we were struggling. I was still working part time, running the house and trying to shield the children from what was happening even though they could see how poorly she was.

“I spoke to the Hospice on Christmas Eve and they said as soon as a window opened up they would come out to us. They came on Christmas morning and it was honestly the best Christmas present I’ve ever had in my life.

“We had been struggling for what felt so long but these nurses came into our home with such compassion and care. They were so capable and made caring for Mum look so effortless. Having them there gave me time to cook Christmas dinner, be with our girls and bring Mum in her wheelchair to the Christmas table.

“They gave us back our Christmas Day, supported us all when we were at our lowest and were so wonderful with Mum. To have that last Christmas with Mum was such an extraordinary gift, and I can’t put into words how much that means to us.”

Isabel senior staff nurse Linda Dickinson said: “We know that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for our patients and their families, and it’s our job to support them through it and try to make a difference in any way we can.

“Ordinarily, Christmas is the most special day of the year, but our families are spending it in the worst possible circumstances. It’s likely to be the last Christmas they will spend together, and all you want to do is make it as easy as possible for them.

“A couple of Christmases ago we were caring for an elderly lady at home with her daughter and grandchildren. The daughter was trying to juggle caring for her mother, cooking the Christmas dinner and trying to give the children as normal a Christmas Day as possible.

“The previous evening, the nurse who was supporting the family had put the carrot outside for Father Christmas and made little footprints so the children thought he had been. When it came to handing out the presents, she helped explain to them why the gifts under the tree from Grandma were extra special that year.

“It can be such an emotionallycharged day anyway, so when a family is in crisis, or a loved one is at the end of life, it only heightens those feelings. Hospice care is about helping people to still have those special moments which mean so much.”

Adrian sums up volunteer role!

Did you know that our volunteers help support every aspect of our work? This may be direct patient-facing care, such as assisting at our In-Patient Unit or Living Well with Isabel hubs, or reaching out to befriend the socially isolated via our Compassionate Neighbours initiative.

Others generate income through our shops and e-commerce platforms, or offer a helping hand to our fundraising team. We also have volunteers who support our head office activities.

Here, Adrian Wong shares his volunteering journey.

Why did you choose to volunteer with Isabel Hospice?

I came out of university and wanted to gain some practical accounting experience, having done an accountancy degree.

Why Isabel Hospice?

I saw the advert online for a volunteer on the Isabel Hospice website and it was near to where I live.

What have you gained by volunteering with us?

I’ve learnt skills that aren’t in the textbook! This is real life –and it makes the theory easier to understand.

Where did you volunteer?

I initially worked with the finance team and then during lockdown helped at the Welcome Centre. This involved meeting visitors and supporters, seeking Gift

Aid contributions and moving goods into the donation centre for sorting. After lockdown, I returned to finance.

What happened next?

As a volunteer I had the opportunity to explore different areas within finance, which helped me determine my career path. Then in April this year, a job came up, I applied and I got it! I am now the Accounts Payable Assistant and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Why do you enjoy working at Isabel Hospice?

I enjoy working for a great cause as well as working in a supportive environment. We’re fortunate to have another volunteer who supports myself and my colleagues one day a week.

We need you!

Are you keen to learn new skills, make new friends and do something rewarding that supports an important local cause? Do you have a few hours a week to spare? Or could you support us on an ad-hoc basis? If so, let’s discuss how your skills and expertise can help us deliver our plans for 2023. Your input can make a huge difference!

Scan the QR code for details of our regular Volunteer Information Sessions, or call Caroline Baynes on 01707 382500 to book your place.

Adrian Lampard, our Head of Finance, said: “Adrian assisted our small team one day a week for more than two years, helping with tasks such as accounts payable/sales ledger, processing of payroll and trading data and covering during staff holidays, as well as using his skills with Excel to create analytical reports for retail.

“When a vacancy arose, Adrian was the ideal candidate with a proven track record and, despite tough competition from a large number of external applicants, he was offered the job. A key benefit for the Hospice is that we got continuity and cost saving.”

Congrats to Cerys

Congratulations to Hatfield shop volunteer Cerys Brady, 21, who has been shortlisted in the Young Volunteer category of the national Charity Retails Awards 2022.

We wish her the best of luck for when the winners are announced in January.

Our award-winning staff are our most valuable asset –and we are always seeking new recruits. If you’re looking for a paid role, we currently have opportunities to join our clinical, retail and fundraising teams.

Check out our current vacancies at isabelhospice.org.uk/careers

Welcome to Isabel’s new Head of Fundraising

I’m Katy O’Sullivan, Isabel’s new Head of Fundraising. I have been working in the charity sector for eight years and am very passionate about hospice care.

I believe in getting the right care, services and support to the right people, at the right time. I am passionate about supporting people and their families during extremely difficult times and believe that supporters like you make this possible.

Demand for our life-changing, compassionate care has never been higher, and we are now supporting more families than ever before. All of our services are free of charge to those who need them, but they are not without cost, meaning we must raise £7 million every year to guarantee our future.

As we only receive NHS funding to cover a third of this, we rely heavily on voluntary income. Within the fundraising team we do this through events, sponsorship, community activities, in memory giving, general donations, gifts in Wills and applying for grants to name a few!

Without supporters like yourself none of this would be possible and every single donation –small or lar

I personally want to thank each and every one of you and hope that you can continue to support us in the future.

Katy O’ Sullivan

This Spring, we are excited to be launching a new online fundraising campaign with the aim of raising £100,000 in just a day and a half.

Katy said: “We’ve never done anything like this before, but with the difficulties that our charity, and our patients, are experiencing with the cost of living crisis, we have to find a way to raise more funds to support those who rely on our specialist care.”

Thanks to a matched funding pledge by a small number of our benefactors, every donation made between 10am on Sunday 12 March 2023 and 10pm Monday 13 March 2023, will be doubled, so every penny counts.

Will you help make our campaign a huge success by getting your friends and family to support us in reaching our £100,000 target? If you are interested in supporting us, or becoming one of our matched funding benefactors, please email us at fundraising@isabelhospice.org.uk.

Full details about the campaign will be available on our website in the New Year, so watch this space!

Head of Fundraising

Katy’s story

Over the summer of 2021, we had the privilege of caring for Katy Sykes, a brave and beautiful mum-of-two who tragically died nine weeks and three days after being diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. She was just 39.

One of Katy’s final wishes was for her family and friends to raise money for Isabel Hospice in her memory as a thank you for the care her family received during her illness. On what would have been Katy’s 40th birthday, that fundraising total hit £40,000 in our 40th anniversary year.

Here, her mum Jan, her partner Richard and our clinical team share Katy’s inspiring story.

Katy’s legacy of love

“I met Katy in 2019. I’ve known her sister Jane for many years, and we wondered later how we had never met sooner.

“We hit it off straight away and after two years we bought a house together, starting our new chapter as a blended family in March 2021. With Katy’s two sons living with us, and my two older daughters from a previous relationship staying regularly, our home was a madhouse but full of love and laughter. Katy loved it.

“The hopes and dreams we had for our future lives together were not meant to be, however. In July 2021, Katy went to A&E to investigate a persistent pain in her abdomen, which had started a couple of weeks earlier.

After numerous tests she was sent for a CAT scan and later that day we were told by the doctors that they had found multiple tumours on her liver. Further investigation was required urgently.

“This is when our nightmare began.

“Over the next week or so, we bounced from appointment to appointment at different hospitals before eventually seeing the senior oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital. This was where we learned that Katy’s cancer had started in her bowel, spread to her ovary and then onto her liver. The prognosis was not good. It was terminal but, in conjunction with a second oncologist at UCLH, a treatment plan was agreed upon.

“Now seriously ill, Katy’s condition seemed to deteriorate rapidly, with bouts of severe pain. Twice she was rushed to A&E and admitted to hospital with infections, and both times we thought we may lose her overnight. On one of these occasions, she called us all at 3am to say her final goodbyes.

“Following this rapid decline in her health, Katy received one dose of chemotherapy, but did not recover enough to undergo any further sessions. It was after this that it was decided that she would be admitted to the In-Patient Unit at Isabel Hospice.

“Within days she was getting up, showering and washing her hair. She could dress independently and put on her makeup. She was eating well, mainly thanks to the quality of the Hospice food and the tempting menus.

The prognosis was not good and a treatment plan was agreed.

Katy’s parents Peter and Jan with her partner Rich (centre) and siblings Jane and Paul.

It seemed to us that she had reclaimed herself. There was almost a sense of false hope that she was miraculously getting better because it was such an incredible transformation.

“Katy had visitors all the time and would sit out in the garden, talking and laughing with friends and family who were able to visit her. Her pain was controlled with balanced medication and the Hospice staff were always attentive.

“Her 39th birthday on 8th September was spent with us all at home in the garden and our memories of that day are amazing. Katy wrote letters to her family and a list of things that she wanted me to do upon her passing. Katy wanted to have a tea party for her nearest and dearest friends to say goodbye, so invitations were prepared and together we booked a hotel and she ordered a new dress. My birthday was in the middle of October and she had meticulously planned the whole day knowing that she would not be with us. There were cards, presents and a cake and she had even booked and arranged for my family to surprise me with a meal at a restaurant.

“It astounds me that she was able to have the mental strength to focus on all these things. When you are at your most vulnerable and lowest point, how do you pick yourself up and write down and articulate your feelings to your loved ones? Her greatest regret, and the hardest to come to terms with, was that she would not get to see her two beloved boys grow up.

“Katy was always thinking of everyone else, right until the very end. And it was the staff at the Hospice, where she felt so safe, who gave her the strength, physically and emotionally, to be able to do that. For me, that was such a wonderful gift that I will always be grateful for.

“One of the things she planned was for me to take the boys and my daughters for a special day out to a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea in a London hotel, followed by a trip on the London Eye. As she was feeling so much stronger, amazingly the Hospice agreed that she could accompany us and I arranged for a chauffeur driven limo for the day so that she didn’t have to walk far. It was a truly special day and the six of us have wonderful memories of our last outing together.

“Katy died peacefully in the IPU just two weeks after that outing. Sadly, the afternoon tea never happened. Now we have gone through a whole year of firsts without her. We had an amazing two and a half years, but have been robbed of our future and that’s the hardest thing to get my head around. One of Katy’s wishes on the long list she gave me was to raise money for the Hospice, and the response was incredible. We want to thank everybody for their contributions. It has given us all so much comfort seeing how much she was loved. She was just the most wonderful person and it’s an amazing legacy.”

£40k for 40 years

“Just a few weeks following a sudden and devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 bowel cancer last summer, our vibrant and beautiful daughter Katy was admitted to the IPU at the start of September 2021.

“By the time of her diagnosis just a few weeks earlier at the end of July, and approaching her 39th birthday, Katy’s cancer had already spread to her liver. Up until that point, she had been living a full and active life, with two young sons, a busy job and a new home with her partner, Richard. Life was looking good.

“A treatment plan was drawn up, but sadly her cancer was deemed so aggressive that she was only well enough to receive one dose of chemotherapy at the Royal Free Hospital in London during August. A further stay in hospital with an infection followed.

“Too weak to undergo further treatment, Katy was transferred to the Hospice for palliative care. There she received wonderful and loving care from all the dedicated staff and was even well enough to leave for a few days, going home to spend her 39th birthday with us all and again for a special day out in London with her partner and her two young sons.

“Katy died on 30th September 2021, surrounded by all of our family, just nine weeks from her initial diagnosis. The grace and dignity she showed through her last few weeks left a lasting impression on everyone who came into contact with her. One of her last wishes was that any money raised in her memory should go to Isabel Hospice to allow them to continue their amazing work with those facing

Katy with parents Peter and Jan.

Katy was always thinking of everyone else, right until the very end.

The grace and dignity she showed through her last weeks left a lasting impression on everyone.

“Richard immediately opened a Just Giving page and money began to pour in. Unbelievably, the total has continued to rise throughout the last year, with more donations around what would have been Katy’s 40th birthday in September and the first anniversary of her death at the end of that month.

“Two events raised larger amounts of money. A team of seven runners, led by Rich and her best friend Sarah, took part in the 40th St Albans Half Marathon in June, and in September her sister Jane and a team of nine ladies walked the Shine Night Walk for Cancer in London.

“The support and love from so many people has sustained our family over the past year, with the fund closing at the end of October with the amazing total of £41,530 (before Gift Aid).

“Our focus now is to watch her two sons grow up and remember their fabulous mummy. Nothing will bring back our precious daughter, but it is a wonderful tribute to Katy’s life that in 2022 – Isabel’s 40th year and what would have been her 40th year – the fundraising has topped £40,000.”

‘Remembering you is easy, we’ll do it every day, Missing you is heartache that will never go away.’

Katy (centre) with brother Paul and sister Jane.

Gone but never forgotten

Charlotte Carder, our Acting Head of In-Patient Services, and nursing support assistant Brenda Hendrie, who is also a bereavement volunteer, spent lots of time with Katy during her stay on the IPU.

“Caring for Katy and her family was an absolute privilege. What first struck Brenda and I about Katy was not only her beauty but also her bravery during a very difficult time for her and her family.

“She was open and honest and wanted to make sure her family, especially her two young sons, were supported throughout her illness and ultimately after she died. We spent many an hour talking about her wishes and how she could prepare them. Brenda helped Katy write letters to her family, including her partner, parents, siblings and children. These were to be given to them on important milestones.

“Katy’s partner Rich, who was here all the time throughout Katy’s stay, needed lots of support as well as encouragement to take care of himself physically and mentally. Brenda and the whole team offered him a listening ear and many a chip butty.

“Rich was also pleased that he didn’t have to send food parcels to Katy to tempt her to eat as the choice here was wide and varied and Katy could choose what she wanted.

“We provided a safe space for Katy and her family to express their sorrow and talk openly about the days ahead. It was very important for Katy that she could still be the beautiful young woman that she was and she was assisted to shower, wash her

hair, dress in her own clothes and look as well as she could for her family up until the very end of her life. This stood out to her family, who knew her better than we did.

“Although we do this job every day, and we came into palliative care knowing that we would be faced with very sad situations, Katy has left a lasting sadness for the whole IPU team, but has also empowered us to cope with young grief and reminded us that our jobs really do make a difference.

“We recently met with Katy’s family and her sister, Jane, asked how we cope with death and dying, especially with young people. We reassured her that we support one another, have debrief sessions, training to build resilience, and most of all lots of hugs.”

The support and love from so many people has sustained our family over the past year...

Kili trekkers raise £54,000!

Ten intrepid trekkers are feeling on top of the world after scaling Africa’s highest peak in aid of the Hospice.

The group, which included Isabel palliative care doctor Karen Bartlam and her husband Martin as well as our trusts and foundations executive Lisa Bailey, have together raised £54,000 for our charity after reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro during their seven-day expedition in October.

Dr Karen said: “As it’s the 40th anniversary of Isabel Hospice, it seemed fitting to do a big venture as part of this, particularly as we are aware fundraising efforts were made so much more difficult during Covid.”

Every member of the team reached the 5,895m summit, overcoming challenges such as high altitude, the Barranco Wall, otherwise known as the ‘Death Wall’, and a range of terrain from rainforest to desert.

The trekkers were supported by a team of local Tanzanian porters and guides who were amazing in the support they gave, including sourcing all the water for the trek from local rivers on the mountain.

“I imagined it would be a very tough challenge, physically and mentally, but also I just didn’t know what the situation would be regarding altitude sickness, as it seemed very unpredictable,” added Dr Karen.

“One of the main highs – literally – was the fact that we all reached the top of Kilimanjaro. And this was due to the excellent team spirit, everyone looking out for each other, helping each other. The local guides, porters and support teams were also simply incredible, and without them none of this would have been possible.”

Remarkable runners

Congratulations to our twelve London Marathon runners who took part in the world-famous 26-mile race through the capital in October.

Together, they have raised £22,595 for our charity. Our runners were Mark M, Zoe, Owen, Sam, Laura, Holly, Heidi, Mike, Mark F, David, Jeremy and Lucie.

If you are interested in running the Brighton, London Landmarks Half-marathon or London Marathon 2023 please visit our website for more information.

Golf day success

Our Autumn Golf Day went with a swing – raising an incredible £45,000 for Isabel!

Twenty-eight teams took to the green at Essendon Golf Club for a fantastic day of golfing.

Congratulations to the day’s winners, Cala Homes, and a huge thank you to all our golfers and to those who donated prizes and sponsored the event.

Get ready to dish the dirt

Get ready to slip, slide and scramble as our Muddy Mayhem 2023 event returns for a another year this Spring,

Back by popular demand, we are delighted to confirm that we will be staging our mud-tastic 5km obstacle course in conjunction with our friends at Garden House Hospice Care on Sunday 26th March at the beautiful, private Woodhall Estate in Watton-at-Stone.

Promising more hills, more spills and more thrills than ever before, participants will clamber, climb and crawl over new obstacles and through gallons of marvellous mud in aid of our two hospices.

In addition to the 5km adult course, there will also be a 1km Mini Mudder route for children aged under-11.

Register before December 31st and take advantage of our early bird discount. Sign up today at isabelhospice.org.uk/muddy-mayhem-2023

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

FLOWERS

WITH

DAVID THOMSON

20th April 2023, 12.30pm

The Cobbold Barn,

Knebworth House

David Thomson is a NAFAS demonstrator who travels all over the UK sharing his floristry expertise. Come with your friends and enjoy afternoon tea after David’s demonstration.

Enquiries to Barbara Doherty on 01279 842140 or barbara@thedoherys.info.

GOLF DAY

8th June 2023

Brickendon Grange Golf Club Make up a team and play this parkland course, which has been rated as one of the finest in the south of England. Eighteen teams of four; two-tee start. Bacon butties on arrival and a two-course lunch included.

Enquiries to Suzanne Coleman on 01438 798869 or rdsjcoleman@gmail.com.

With thanks to our Special Events Committee for organising both these events.

Fans flock to see Shepherdess

The remarkable farming life of The Yorkshire Shepherdess was vividly brought to life during An Evening with Amanda Owen back in September.

Some 150 guests packed out the atmospheric Tythe Barn at Tewinbury Farm all eager to be regaled with tales from Amanda’s life at Ravenseat, the traditional hilltop farm in Upper Swaledale that has been her home for more than 25 years.

Barbara Doherty, who hosted the event with our Special Events Committee, said: “Amanda is a best-selling author, passionate photographer, newspaper columnist, public speaker and mother-of-nine. She is a woman of many talents but first and foremost she is a shepherdess.

“Her wonderful talk illustrated by her own stunning photographs showed us life throughout the seasons at Ravenseat – spring, summer, autumn and harsh winters on the farm with all the family taking part.”

The sold-out event raised £4,643 to support the work of the Hospice.

Since April 2022, our 15 charity shops and online eBay store have raised £1.4 million. By selling unwanted items, we have saved almost 325,000 items from going into landfill. The profit raised from this could help pay for 7,635 nursing hours, or cover the cost of running our In-Patient Unit for two months.

We are so grateful for the donations we receive, but unfortunately we have seen a drop in donations since last year. We continue to stock our shops as best we can so we can keep on raising the vital income the Hospice relies on, so if you have any good quality clothing and homeware, small electricals, vintage items and collectables, then please do come and see us at our donation centre in Welwyn, or visit one of our shops.

Since launching earlier this year, our Tonnes of Care green initiative has helped save 674 tonnes from landfill in its first six months.

More than 84,000 bags of unused or unwanted items were donated to our charity shops, donation centre and mobile donation days between April and September – helping to fund an incredible 37,070 nursing hours!

Schools, businesses and community organisations have been among those who have pledged their support to our sustainability drive to help pay for the vital care and support we provide to those diagnosed with a terminal or life-limiting illness, and their families.

tonnes from needlessly ending up in landfill. By donating good quality items that you no longer want or need, conscientious consumers and green-minded businesses are not only lessening their environmental impact, but are making a positive difference to the lives of local people by helping to fund our specialist care and support.

Head of retail Charlotte Greenwood said: “Donations to our shops have played a massive part in keeping our services running for the last 40 years since the Hospice was founded, and everyone who signs up to support Tonnes of Care is making sure everyone in their community receives the life-changing care and support they deserve when they need it the most.”

We are currently seeking new venues to host a Tonnes of Care mobile donation point, and are particularly keen to find suitable indoor venues so people can continue donating through the colder winter months.

If you can help, call our retail team on 01707 382500 or email: toc@isabelhospice.org.uk

Christmas should be the most wonderful time of the year. With the cost of living increasing significantly, we wanted to make sure our local community

find great value in our charity shops and online eBay, Vinted and Depop stores.

If you’ve never shopped pre-loved before, then our shops are a great place to start. We not only stock great value clothing, including Christmas jumpers and party outfits, but Secret Santa shopping has never been easier with our wide and unique range of preloved gifts.

As well as being purse-friendly, shopping with Isabel helps to save unused and unwanted items from going into landfill, so you can feel great about Going Green this festive season, all while raising essential funds for our specialist care.

We also have brand new products that have been specially curated by our retail team, so if you’re looking for stocking fillers and Christmas Eve boxes, our range of festive travel cups, plantable children’s books and baking mix bottles are ideal. We have candles and reed diffusers for those in need of some self care available in our shops and online on our eBay shop too.

Lastly, don’t forget about our Christmas cards, including plantable seed cards, festive jute and kraft paper bags and get ready for 2023 with our Isabel Hospice diaries and calendars.

could

We’ve got

wrapped up!

Tree-cycling branches out

Christmas is just around the corner – and so is the Isabel Hospice tree recycling service! In exchange for a suggested donation, our amazing team of volunteers will collect and recycle your Christmas tree!

We’re here to help make your Christmas clear-up as hassle-free as possible, leaving you to focus on the festive fun. So, when you’ve finished decking the halls and it’s time to pack away the tinsel and baubles for another year, we will pick up your tree from your door and recycle it in an environmentally friendly way.

We will be collecting and recycling your real Christmas trees between 7th and 13th January 2023 in the following postcode areas:

AL6 9/0, AL7 1/2/3/4, AL8 6/7, AL9 5/6/7, AL10 0/8/9

CM21 0/9, CM23 2/3/4/5

EN6 4, EN7 5/6, EN8 7/8/9/0, EN10 6/7, EN11 8/9/0

SG2 7, SG3 6, SG9 9/0, SG10 6, SG11 1/2, SG12 7/8/9/0, SG13 7/8, SG14 1/2/3

Last year, we collected more than 1,500 trees from households across eastern Hertfordshire, raising a treemendous £30,500 to help fund our compassionate care.

We expect to be even busier this year, so book your collection slot online as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Book today at isabelhospice.org.uk/fundraising/ recycle-your-christmas-tree.

Can you help post leaflets through letterboxes or distribute posters? Or lend a hand collecting the trees in January and dropping them to our disposal sites?

If you can assist, even for just a couple of hours, please email Katy.O’Sullivan@ isabelhospice.org.uk or call the fundraising team on 01707 382500 option 4

Our final two services are being held at The Green at Campus West in Welwyn Garden City on Saturday 10th December and Halsey Masonic Hall in Cheshunt on Sunday 11th December. Both services start at 4pm.

There is also still time to make a dedication to someone who holds a special place in your heart by dedicating a light in their memory of our Visufund tree. Dedications can be made via isabelhospice.org.uk/lightsoflove

The money raised through your Lights of Love dedications will help us support more people like Pearl Roots, who was cared for by our In-Patient and Hospice at Home teams.

Her daughter Jayne said: “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.”

Thank you to those of you who joined us at our Lights of Love services this year.