David and his family would like to thank all those who have been such a strong support for Margaret and the family during her illness. The family send their heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Pasque Hospice for all they did in caring not just for Margaret but for the whole family. Their kindness, nursing skills and compassion will always be treasured by David and his family. If you would like to make a donation to the hospice in memory of Margaret please click the 'Donate' link at the top of this page. It is a VERY worthwhile cause. Some thoughts on Margaret's stay in the hospice..... During her stay the community at the hospice became like an extended part of our family and although there were inevitably times of great sadness in the in-patient unit, overall it was a happy place to be, somewhere where we could share our troubles but also somewhere where there was much cheerfulness and where we could exchange a joke with the staff. If you can bear with me, I would just like to share a few of our experiences of our time at the hospice. The nursing care was of the highest order, always delivered cheerfully with grace and compassion and also with a joke or two when appropriate. Nothing was too much trouble however frequently it was necessary to summon help. If at any time the staff noticed that family or friends of any patient appeared to be upset, they would be quickly ushered into a side room for a cup of tea and a quiet sympathetic chat. Doctors were on the unit every day including weekends and Bank Holidays and, like the nursing staff, acted with great tenderness and showed a real interest in Margaret's feelings as well as her symptoms. Consultations were often carried out with the doctor holding Margaret's hand or gently rubbing her arm and in the case of one lady doctor often concluded with a kiss on the forehead. The food, in sharp contrast to the hospital, was home-made, appetising and hot, served on a tray often with a linen napkin and a small posy of flowers. The difference this makes to the morale of the patient cannot be overestimated. The family were also able to enjoy sandwiches and snacks in Margaret's room and on Sundays were able to have a traditional Sunday lunch with her. Drinks and biscuits were available to all visitors throughout the day. Visits to the visitors' kitchen gave opportunities for sharing experiences and feelings with the families of other patients. Initially I once or twice made the error of asking young adults in the kitchen whether they were visiting one of their parents only to discover that they were actually visiting a spouse or a sibling. These conversations brought home very forcibly that terminal illness is no respecter of age and if this were not enough, one was always aware of the neighbouring children's hospice. There were also some very comforting extra facilities like the music therapist who would come into Margaret's room with a small harp and just sit in a corner and play for twenty minutes or so. On one occasion a therapist also came along to give Margaret a gentle hand and arm massage while the music was played. Our three year old grandson, Daniel, also benefited from the music therapist as on a couple of occasions she took him to spend an hour in the music room at the children's hospice as a bit of a diversion from Grannie's illness. The services of the hospice's bereavement counsellor are now available to the family if needed and there is also a regular monthly meeting on the premises called 'Silver Lining' at which the bereaved can meet with others and share their experiences. In December every year at the hospice there is an open air service where families and friends can remember loved ones with the opportunity to submit a short tribute and light a candle if desired. Margaret's illness, of course, was very distressing but I cannot think of any place where she could have received better care and attention even had we had limitless funds for private care. Furthermore, the services of the hospice are provided completely free of charge and funded almost entirely by donations. The hospice is also very highly reliant on the support of hundreds of volunteers and I had hoped to be able to express some of my gratitude by becoming a volunteer myself. However, there is a rule that one cannot serve as a volunteer within two years of losing a loved one in the hospice so I will have to be patient and wait for this opportunity.