Linda’s story

My story’ (it’s hard to recollect really when it did begin) but in 2018 my late husband‘s health really began to deteriorate, he had already been given a diagnosis of Emphysema (COPD) but no one was able to give us a prognosis until during an appointment with the Consultant in 2018 he was told that it was stage four and he should ‘put his house in order’ and that his only chance would be if he was considered suitable to be put on the transplant list for a lung transplant.

My role as his wife and lover quickly became one of his carer and I had to give up work in October 2018 to provide the 24-hour care he needed, with no family living near I soon realised that I needed some support from somewhere/anywhere. I had picked up a leaflet about St Mary‘s Hospice from somewhere and on there was the telephone number to contact the Family and Bereavement Support Team although at the time I thought that the hospice was there for cancer patients and their families alone. I have since discovered many others under the same misconception and nothing could be further from the truth; they offer help to anyone suffering from (and their families) a life limiting illness. I completed the form which was inside the leaflet, sent it off and then my story begins:

My cry for help was answered by the first of many ‘Angels on Earth’ that I was to meet along our journey, with the Family and Bereavement Support Team providing me with emotional help and support and later with practical help around benefits we were entitled to, ensuring that the practical aids and community medical support was provided for us and then when the time came the referral to the next amazing, caring team which was the Hospice at Home team.

The Hospice at Home team provided us with the most amazing care, support, advice. Practical help, about absolutely everything that we needed during the time my husband was at home and when the time came the referral into another wonderful caring team on the InPatient Unit.

My Husband had four stays on the IPU, for respite, meds management and for end-of-life care, the care, support and love shown to both of us is something I struggle to put into words just to say you couldn’t be in better hands.

However ‘My Story’ doesn’t end there as I continue to receive support and advice in bereavement in the Family and Bereavement Support Team up to the time when I was strong enough to ‘go it alone’ although I know that if I needed to I could still contact the ladies, who I now regard as friends.

I now enjoy my volunteer role on reception at the hospice and then to undertake training later this year so then may volunteer in other areas to give a little back to St Mary’s and hopefully help others as I have been helped when I needed it most.

Thank you for reading ‘My story’ and remember you’re not alone, reach out and St Mary’s will offer you help.

Linda