Written by Deb's Daughter, Natalie Welch.
My mum, Debs, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2013 and was given just six months. It wasn’t until five years later (yes, she was a warrior!) that we started to speak to St Michael’s Hospice when it became clear Mum would need palliative care. Walking into the Hospice for the first time, you couldn’t fail to notice how calming, inviting and bright it was.
The Hospice became part of the family, made up of a community of wonderful nurses, doctors, assistants and volunteers etc. All with a smile and hug on hand. They were awesome. For mum, it gave her comfort that when the time came, they would be there to support us too.
Mum spent her final 24 hours at the hospice, where she was taken care of, as were we, during those inevitably heart-breaking final hours before she passed. I can’t imagine her passing anywhere else with such care, warmth and dignity. There was no doubt that when I left her (the hardest thing I have ever done) that they were going to take good care of her.
Hospices are the most underrated service. It’s not until you get into a life-limiting situation that you realise the full range of services they offer. There is a misconception that hospices are where people just go to die, when in fact that is just one small part of it. Hospices like St Michael’s are about celebrating life and we must do all we can to support them and protect the vital care they provide.
