VOICES
Peoplebringingthestatisticstolife
“Everythingthatwasmissinginmycaretheypicked uponanddealtwithit.”
PaulWaltonfromMiddlewichreceivedsupportfrom ourDayHospiceandlymphoedemateamfollowing treatmentfortonguecancerlastyear.The58yearold saysStLuke’shasplayedavitalpartinhisrecovery, supportinghimandhelpinghimreturntowork.
"Oncethetreatmenthadfinished,eventhoughyoucan stillcallthehospitalforadvice,youfeellikeyou’reon yourown.Iwassoanxiousaboutlotsofthings–appointments,theoutcomeofscansandtestresults–butthesupportofStLuke’scalmedmedownand helpedmecopewithitall.
"Rightfromdayoneeveryonewassoapproachable andfriendly,nothingwastoomuchtrouble.Iwasable tospeakwiththenursesandmentionedissueswithmy lymphnodesandimmediatelytheyarrangedformeto meetDawn,alymphoedemanurse.Everythingthatwasmissinginmycaretheypickedupon anddealtwithit.
"IhavetosaythatIwasalittlebitscepticalofreikiand theothercomplementarytherapiesbuttheyhave madeamassivedifference-helpingmetorelax,calm downandmoveforwards.
It’sbeenquiteajourneyand StLuke’shasbeenabigpart ofthatjourney.They’ve helpedmemoveforwardsand Ican’tthankthemenough."
“Thesupporthasbeenfantastic!InAprilIwas clinicallygiventheallclearandlastweekIwasableto returntoworksoit’sallworkingoutwellforme.”
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“It’slikeahugasyouwalkthroughthedoors,the careisallaroundyouandeveryoneisdoingtheir besttogetyouthroughthisandliftyouup.”
ChristineO’MalleyfromWillastonhasbeensupportedbyour DayHospiceduringherrecoveryfrombreastcancer
Sheexplains:“Attheendof2022wewerefinallycomingoutof Covid,myhusbandandIwereplanningaholidayofalifetimeto celebrateour60thbirthdaysandwewerelookingforwardto retirementandspendingtimewithourfirstgrandchild Then therugwasverymuchpulledfromunderneathus.
“IfirstcametotheHospiceforchemotherapyaspartofThe Christie‘ClosertoHome’Clinics,butIwasthenreferredfor complementarytherapiesincludingreflexology,reikiand acupuncture.
“Everybodywasjustsokind,puttingmeatease.Thehospice wassmallerandmoreintimatethanIhadthoughtitwouldbe. It’slikeahugasyouwalkthroughthedoors,thecareisall aroundyouandeveryoneisdoingtheirbesttogetyou throughthisandliftyouup.”
Christinesufferedwithperipheralneuropathyasaresultofhercancertreatment,whichshedescribesas like“electricshocksinmyfeetandhands”,andwasstrugglingtosleep Sheexplained:“The complementarytherapiesespeciallyhelpedwithsleepingbecauseIwasdreadinggoingtobed.Atnight youjustwanttosleepbutmyfeetwouldn’tletme!Ijustwantedanythingtostoptheburningsensation andthetreatmentsinDayHospicereallyhelped.
“IthinkIwouldhavebeenatbreakingpointifIhadn’tcometoStLuke’s.Cancerdoesn’tjustaffect you,itaffectsthewholefamily,andthenursesweretheretohelp,counselandguide.Theywerejust wonderful.I’mstartingtofeellikeI’vegotcontrolbackandI’mlivinglifeagain.”
Patient
voice
“Toalltheteamat StLuke’s,you pickedmeupwhen Iwasatmylowest, howcanIever thankyou.”
“I’dliketosaya bigthankyou forlisteningand talkingabout thingsthathave putmymindat rest.”
“Whatagreatplace tobe.Thereis nothingtoomuch troubleforthe nurses,theymake youfeellikeyoucan askthemanything.”
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“Thisismysafeplace.Itgivesmethecouragetofaceeveryday.”
Afterherchemotherapyforovariancancerfailed,DebbieJones reachedaverylowpoint.Itwasthenthatshefoundsupportandthe strengthsheneededthroughourHospice’snurse-led complementarytherapyclinics.
Debbieexplains:“Iwentthroughatorridtimewiththechemo.I’ve gotthreedaughtersandtheyweretremendousinlookingafterme butitallgotabitmuchwhenIrealisedthechemohadn’tworked.Ihit adarktimeandIjustneededsomeonewhounderstoodwhatIwas goingthroughinside.
“IhaveflownreallysinceIstartedatStLuke’s.It’slikemysafety blanketcominghere.Idon’tevenhavetomentiontheCword, there’sjustanunderstanding,andithasmademefocusagainina positiveway.
“BeforeeachsessionIgettospeaktoanurselikeKate,andthatreally helps.HomeismysafeplacebutIfeelthatthisismysafeplace too.Itgivesmethecouragetofaceeverydayandnotrelyonmy daughterssomuch.Theycanseeadifferenceinme,they’reamazed athowpositiveIam.
“Idon’tknowwhatthefutureholdsbutIneedtomakethemostofit andIknowthatStLuke’saretheretosupportmeandholdmyhand Idon’tthinkIwouldbeinthegoodplacethatIamnowwithwhat I’mfacingifitwasn’tforStLuke’s.I’msogratefulforeverything andforeveryday.”
“It gives you peace of mind.”
OurHospicehassupportedGrahamandCarolWelchfrom Creweformorethan15years.Thefamilyfirstcameintocontact withStLuke’swhentheirdaughtersadlydiedfrombowel cancerin2009 SincethenGrahamhasbeensupportedbyour DayHospicewithstomachcancerandCarolmostrecently followingadiagnosisofbreastcancer.
Grahamsaid:“StLuke’shasbeentherebesideusalltheway through Youwalkthroughthosedoorsandit’slike everythinghaslifted,itgivesyoupeaceofmind.Youdon’t realisewhatgoesintotheseplacesuntilyouarehereyourself, buttheyaresovitalanddofantasticwork.”
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“ItwasperfectthemomentwearrivedontheInpatientUnit”
LeeWinterbottomfromCuddingtonsayshecanneverrepay theHospiceforthecompassionatecarehiswifeDianne receivedonourInpatientUnitinthefinal2weeksofherlife.
Leeexplains:"MywifesadlydiedattheHospiceinJunelast yearjustweeksbeforeher58thbirthday.TheHospicehad caredforhermumbeforethatandhersisterbeforethat,soI havequiteahistoryoffamilymembersbeingcaredforby StLuke’s.
"I’maformerparamedicandDiannewasanurse.Overthe yearsIhadtransportedpatientsinandoutofhospices acrossCheshirebutIhadneverexperiencedthecarefirst handbefore.
“Itwasperfectfromthemomentwearrived.Irememberthe senseofreliefweallfeltthemomentwewalkedthroughthe doors.Thecarewasindividualisedandeveryoneinvolved inlookingafterDi,andalsolookingaftermeandthe wholefamily,wereamazing."
FollowingDianne’sdeath,Leereceivedcounsellingatthe Hospicetohelphimcometotermswiththebereavement, whichhesayshasbeenanessentialpartofthisprocess.
LeenowvolunteersatourWarehouseasaneBayresearcher tothanktheHospiceforthecarehisfamilyhasreceived
“Youmadeavery difficulttimeeasierto bearwiththe wonderfulcareyou gaveallourfamily.It bringsgreatcomfort knowingthathewas sowellcaredfor.”
“Thankyouforthe
kindness,respectand dignityyougavetomy Dadandmyfamily. Therewasnoother placeIorhewouldof wantedtobeatavery sadtimeforus.”
“I’dliketothankyou allforthemost wonderfulcareand compassionyougave mymum Icouldn’thaveasked forabetterplacefor hertospendherlast fewdays”
