Terry's story

He said:

“We first heard about St Oswald’s Hospice when Margaret’s Specialist Nurse mentioned the Lymphoedema Clinic. We weren’t sure what to think at first but we soon realised that the Hospice has a lot of services to offer – people don’t just go there to die.

“Lymphoedema was a symptom of Margaret’s condition and so she would regularly go to the clinic at Cleadon Park to manage the lymphoedema in both of her legs. The service was outstanding and an ambulance would even come to pick her up from home for all her appointments – the Hospice always went the extra mile.

“After a while using the service it was suggested that Margaret use the Hospice’s Inpatient Service for symptom management, including sorting out all her medication. She was at St Oswald’s Hospice for two weeks and loved it, as they cared for all of her needs. I still remember the first time I visited and the staff had gone out to get Margaret fish and chips, just because she said she fancied it!

“The staff are handpicked, and unlike anywhere I’ve ever been before. They always looked after me whenever I visited too, making sure I was OK and bringing me cups of tea and cake. Nothing was too much trouble for them.”

After Margaret died, the Hospice continued to support Terry, who has been having weekly phone calls with a member of our Bereavement Team since October 2020. Terry continued:

“I’ve been speaking to Laura from the Bereavement Team every week and she’s been my rock. I look forward to her calls each week and can’t wait until we can meet in person.”