Glynis & Pearl's story - Christmas at the hospice

I began volunteering with my dog, Pearl, in early 2018. That same year she was assessed as a PAT dog, ready to brighten the days of those staying on the Inpatient Unit. Pearl has always had the calmest nature, and people seem to warm to her instantly. It’s wonderful to watch how she can bring a smile to someone’s face, even on their hardest days.

We volunteer together both on reception and around the Inpatient Unit. Everybody loves Pearl. Patients’ faces light up when she trots into their room, and visitors often smile the moment they see her sitting proudly beside me at reception, usually on her own chair, wearing her very own Dove House name badge. A gentle cuddle or a stroke from Pearl can lift someone’s spirits just enough to help them walk through the door to see their loved one with a little more strength.

I started volunteering because of the incredible care my husband William and I received when he died around Christmas in 2017. The kindness shown to us was outstanding, and volunteering is my way of saying thank you.

When Pearl and I returned to the hospice as volunteers, we were welcomed back with open arms. I have always felt supported at Dove House, and it has helped me through the loneliness of losing William. Being able to pop into the York Room to light a candle for him means so much.
A typical shift for us is busy and full of little moments that stay with me: the way Pearl cuddles up to someone who is poorly, or how a patient gains a little colour in their cheeks after seeing her. Those moments are priceless. Helping in any way I can gives me such satisfaction and pride. It really does feel like making a difference.

One of my favourite times to volunteer is Christmas. I always give my time on Christmas Eve, and often on Christmas Day too. Despite everything they are facing, people arrive in such high spirits because they want to celebrate with their loved ones. The hospice is beautifully decorated, and Pearl comes dressed in her best Christmas finery. Visitors bring gifts, families gather together, and Pearl is always ready with a cuddle when someone is feeling sad. Christmas at Dove House feels different but festive and warm, even in the hardest moments.

The joy Pearl brings is worth its weight in gold. She leaves a lasting impression on almost everyone she meets, and I get so much out of our volunteering too. The nurses have become friends, like family, really, and the sense of togetherness at the hospice is something I treasure.

To make a patient smile, even for a moment, or bring a little colour back to their face, that’s why I volunteer. Dove House was there for me when my world was breaking, and now I have the chance to share that same kindness with others. It’s an honour to be part of that.