Where moments are honoured every day For Steven Christie, keyboardist for The Proclaimers, music was a love he shared with his mum, Annie, who came to St Columba’s last year to receive palliative care. Here Steven shares some special moments that people might not necessarily think of when considering hospice care.
M
y Mum, Annie, was local to the Wardie Bay area and used to play as a child on the shore you can see today from the Hospice building. I grew up nearby too and have fond recollections of our neighbours, the harbour and family sailing trips. Who would have thought that this circle of life could have happened by a riverbank on the Forth. “There are many twists and turns on a personal journey. On every visit to St Columba’s, I lived a different experience and different emotions, but the Hospice staff were always there to provide care and support.
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“I recently read a letter from Mum which she wrote soon after her diagnosis. She expresses how proud she was of our reaction to her news. In truth, I didn’t know where to turn when faced with the question, who is going to help us? I’m so glad we found this incredible place. “I was inspired to tell my story when I thought about other people who might need the Hospice’s help but be scared to take that step. I understand their apprehensions because I felt the same way. Then I learned that there was a whole other side to my original perception of hospice care.
www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk
“I found it to be a place where care, love and practicalities all come together. It’s a place where lovely moments create precious memories that stay with you always.” One such memory was made when our arts service lent Steven a keyboard so that he could play for his mum in her room. After her shift one day, a nurse asked Steven if he would play her the Proclaimer’s song, “Sunshine on Leith”. Steven was happy to
