Sarah's story

Before she died Sarah shared her story with us about the impact Dove House had on her:

My name is Sarah and I was first diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago. It was stage two and after having a lumpectomy I then went through chemo and radiotherapy as a clean up process to make sure everything was gone. I was given the all clear and was free of cancer for about two and a half years. Towards the end of that time, I started experiencing really bad back pains and after an MRI I found out the cancer had come back and it was now in my bones, my liver, and the lining of my stomach. I have been through so many different treatments and unfortunately, there is no more to try. My cancer is now terminal and I am in my last few months of life.

I went into the hospital to have my stomach drained and developed a blood clot. I have had them before so this was nothing new to me but after being discharged I started experiencing excruciating pain in my foot. I couldn’t put any weight on it. I was in so much pain and the community nurses were doing their best but couldn’t administer medication quickly enough. They recommended that I might benefit from going to Dove House to help me manage my symptoms and get my pain under control. I was struggling at home and I couldn’t look after myself. But I was adamant I didn’t want to go, it filled me with dread. I had always associated it with where people go to pass away. I am a home person and living on my own I didn’t want to burden my friends and family or put pressure on them. I know they would of course help me but I am used to being independent. But, the reality was that I did need help and that I had to give the hospice a try. I had a discussion with my Macmillan nurse about my wishes at the end of my life and when my time comes I didn’t want to be in the hospital and that maybe a hospice was where I would want to be. I wasn’t ready for that though so when they suggested Dove House I panicked.

Coming through the doors at Dove House I was taken aback by what the hospice offers. I couldn’t believe how different it was from anything I could have expected. I was a little worried about being in a shared room as I am quite a private person but actually, it has been ok, it’s like being part of a little family. You can feel the love in the room, which is really nice.

Everyone at Dove House has been amazing. They take the time to get to know you which has meant so much to me.

The care the hospice has given me has really touched my heart. I have been here three weeks now and that speaks volumes of how settled I am. They are helping me to feel well enough to go home, which is what I want. I actually feel really privileged to have been able to come to Dove House and be looked after the way that I have been. My friends tell me I am like a different person to who came in weeks ago. I am very grateful for everything they have done and continue to do for me, it is out of this world.

The care and attention I have had while I have been at Dove House has been outstanding. I had a theatre trip planned and the hospice team made sure that I could go, organising my travel and even paying for it! I wouldn’t have been able to go otherwise. I didn’t expect it at all.

Finding out that the hospice receives very little funding and that they rely on donations was a huge shock. My friends arranged a charity night in my honour and I honestly didn’t think I would even be able to go to my own party. The only reason I was actually able to go in the end was because of the wonderful staff at the hospice. One of the things I wanted to do before I died was to raise money for a charity so, it only felt right that the money raised would go to the hospice and another local charity close to my heart. It was a really emotional party, especially watching my friends get up and dance when I couldn’t but we raised an incredible £2667! The other patients in my room had waited up for me to ask me all about it, it was lovely.

I am glad I came to Dove House and experienced what the hospice was like. I no longer think it is just a place that you go to die. Now I know the hospice is definitely where I want to be at the end just because of the level of care and love there is. Dove House is almost like a home away from home.

If you ever need hospice care or one of your loved ones does, don’t be apprehensive, All the hospice wants is for you to be able to get well enough to go home and continue living your life. It’s not a place of doom and gloom. Dove House is an amazing place to be, you feel safe, you feel looked after and there is such a positive outlook all of the time.