"My family losses"

I first came into contact with John Taylor Hospice when my uncle required the hospice at home carers during his final few weeks of battling lung cancer in 2014. I recall it being an incredibly sad time.

Then earlier this year, my dear mum was dying of lung, spine and hip cancer only 2 weeks after diagnosis. We had seen the district nurses palliative care team come for 5 days, and they were amazing. Then when it all started to feel a bit too much to deal with, the angels from the hospice at home nurses appeared on the door step. It literally felt like these angelic beings made everything feel different, You could feel the compassion, and everything felt ‘right’ (If that makes sense). 

The loss of my mum sent me into a state of grief where I just couldn’t get images out of my head, and I felt pure despair. So, I made contact with the bereavement team. I have been seeing the wonderful bereavement team for the last 4 months or so, and I don’t know how I’d have coped without them, as during my journey, I sadly lost my dad 8 weeks after my mums passing too. 

Just when I thought I was coming to some kind of normality again, and I returned to work, my sister in law was taken Ill. She was transferred to JTH, and she passed away there peacefully just 5 days later. I witnessed first hand again, the wonderful care you provide. 

Again, my grieving journey is still not done, as my sister is terminally ill with cancer also. I am grateful to JTH for your ongoing counselling, support, compassion and care, not to just my loved ones who have passed, but to me. For keeping me sane, keeping me going, and helping me understand that life is good, even though we are to endure so much. I realise that life is a difficult journey, it’s something that we take for granted for most of our lives, but it’s precious. Very precious. So to anyone out there there who has been through the doors of JTH, or they have walked through your door ...you are not alone.