Close encounters of the furry

Shirley from Abbotsham recently spent time at the hospice, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Our nurses did everything to ensure she was comfortable and free from pain, while helping her to make the most of every single day.

One special moment came when she received a surprise visit from D’Artagnan, a handsome alpaca with a wonderfully wacky hairdo. He trotted right into the Bedded Unit, with his owners from Woolley Animals Farm Park, just to say hello to her.

Shirley’s face lit up. She stroked and fed her fluffy new friend, alongside her daughter and granddaughter, who were visiting for the afternoon. Shirley said: “Living in the countryside, I’ve seen plenty of alpacas, but never up close! This was a real treat.”

Charlie, Shirley’s daughter, also describes how lovely it was to make this memory with three generations of the family: “Things had been quite hectic and Mum had been struggling a lot with her pain, which was difficult for us all to see. But seeing D’Artagnan the alpaca really lifted her spirits, as well as ours.”

Another magical memory was made for Shirley’s family when the hospice catering team prepared a delicious afternoon tea, full of tasty treats for them all to enjoy. “When these three-tiered cake stands were brought out packed with food for us to eat, my granddaughter’s eyes nearly fell out of her head!” said Shirley. “It was absolutely gorgeous. We had finger sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls, chocolate cakes and the most enormous scones. It was just beautiful.”

Shirley returned home after her stay at the hospice. Our community teams continued providing care to her and