Introduction
A daughter from Somerset has shared her story with Weston Hospicecare about the care for her mum, who was being cared for terminal cancer.
Teri McDonald, from Somerset, says “The hospice is an angel service and you’ll never be disappointed, ever!” after the charity cared for her mum, Mandy, before her death in November 2022.
This week, Hospice Care Week (The same week as our Blue for You campaign), Teri explains how the hospice not only met the needs of her mum but cared for the entire family.
Throughout the week, in conjunction with Hospice Care Week and Blue for You, we will be sharing bitesize chunks from Teri.
Doctors not only cared for mum, but me too…
Following part one of our ‘we are hospice care’ series, Teri also shared how the hospice helped her.
Recalling the feeling of being there for all her family members, who was there for Teri?
She says “The doctor saw me comfort all my siblings in the family room. He said to me ‘I’m worried about who is there for you’.
“I went to see him and he just let me cry. There wasn’t anything I needed him to say, there wasn’t I needed to say to him, he just gave me the time to sit in a safe space.”
Then came the cup of tea moment…
Teri resumes “I think the most pivotal moment that touched our hearts the most was with Dad. He hadn’t slept for the whole time because he was scared that Mum would pass while he was asleep.
“He was talking to her all night and got up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. He heard someone come into the room and assumed it was me or one of my siblings.
“My dad noticed no one in the room but on the bedside table was a cup of coffee and two chocolate biscuits.
“So the nurses had made sure his coffee was topped up and that for us, really hit our hearts.”
A reminder of what the hospice do…
Weston Hospicecare provide palliative care to people across North Somerset with a life-limiting condition. It’s holistic care, ensuring the emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical needs are met of the patients and their families.