Dove House Hospice relies on community support to ensure every patient and their family at the hospice will have an extra special Christmas this year. Could you help and make a donation today?
Dove House’s patient Fliss kindly shared her story to show how much the hospice has helped her and to showcase areas of the hospice that people don’t even know about. Since sharing her story Fliss has sadly died but her family want to continue to share her story to support Dove House.
“I had only heard of good things about the hospice before accessing the services myself. Friends and family had recommended Dove House and I thought “They might be able to help me”. I have progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which is a rare neurological condition that can cause problems with balance, movement, vision, speech, and swallowing. There is currently no cure and it can cause immense pain, which I was really struggling with.
“As soon as I walked in the door at the hospice everyone was so helpful and any worries I had started to feel smaller. Everyone I met, from the receptionists to the doctors, the family support team to the care team, the complementary therapists to the occupational therapists, were wonderful. Everyone has shown me such care in everything they do. It really does make such a difference to how I feel. On my first inpatient stay a doctor brought me a cup of tea, it really surprised me but showed how everyone works as one big team.
“I have stayed at the hospice twice now for pain management. When I arrived both times I was in such pain. The nurses, doctors and therapists were fantastic and couldn’t do more for me, everything I wanted they provided. I’ve had neck massages to help alleviate pain, the occupational therapist has been helping me manage my symptoms and the family support team are helping me to come to terms with my illness. Everyone has been so respectful of my feelings and what I need, it has made me feel so much more comfortable. They have given me that peace of mind that I needed.
“Dove House is marvellous; I don’t know what we would do without their support. Because of the fantastic care, I have received, my husband wants to volunteer and give something back, he’s very excited about it.”
Caty Wood, Complementary Therapist at Dove House who supported Fliss, has this to say: “Working at Dove House at Christmas is a privilege. The hospice is able to improve the time people have left, care for their needs and lift their spirits over the festive period. The last couple of Christmases have been very different at the hospice with restrictions in place, but this year we are hopeful to be able to return to a true Dove House Christmas. Our patients and their loved ones deserve the best Christmas possible, a Christmas that will live on with their families.”
Can you help create special Christmas memories for local families facing a tough festive season? Whatever you can give, your support will make such a difference for local people living with life-limiting diseases this Christmas.
To make a donation, please visit www.dovehouse.org.uk/christmasappeal, or contact the fundraising team on 01482 785 743 or by email at fundraising@dovehouse.org.uk