Julie's story

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. I tried to remain happy, but it felt like there was a dark cloud over me. In 2017, just two days after my daughter had a baby, I found out I had developed breast cancer in the other breast. I’ve also had bone cancer for the past five years and was recently told I have cancer in my brain now too. After steroids and radiotherapy, I went downhill. I felt so unwell I couldn’t even get out of bed. I wasn’t eating but constantly being sick and losing weight so quickly. I was depressed, had such a low quality of life and my anxiety was really bad.

I reached out for help as I didn’t know where to turn at the time, I am so glad the hospice was there for me. I started talking to the Family Support Team at Dove House. Talking and getting everything out of my head showed me how I could move through my feelings.

Because I had taken the steps through the doors at Dove House it didn’t feel so scary when I came to the Inpatient Unit for respite. My partner Duncan and my daughter Rachel had been taking it in turns to care for me so being able to come to the hospice for 24/7 care would give them a well-deserved rest that I knew they so desperately needed. Especially after I had already had two falls at home, they worried about me all the time.

Respite gave me the opportunity to socialise, enjoy lovely meals, have relaxing treatments with the Complementary Therapist and talk about how I was feeling. The lady who I was sharing a room with used to do crafts and it was lovely. The doctors and nurses were just amazing! My family were able to come and visit, including my grandchildren which was really important to me.
I also saw the Physiotherapist while staying at the hospice and she helped me walk again. I came to Dove House in a wheelchair as I was so weak, so to be able to walk was a huge achievement.

I have been accessing services at the hospice for the past five years now and they have improved my life so much. Just one of the many incredible things the hospice did for me was allowed me to have a bath, and not just any bath it was a jacuzzi with lights and any music I wanted. I really missed baths at home, and I felt incredible after, it was only possible while I was at the hospice. I definitely left Dove House feeling so much better than when I first arrived!
 
My daughter has sung at the hospice’s Light up a Life events at Hull Minster and Summer Memories in the gardens. While I was in for respite, she arranged with the fundraising team to sing again and the whole hospice rallied around to make sure that I could attend. Everyone was so attentive and helped me to get there to listen to my daughter sing. Driving Miss Daisy, who offer accessible transport came and collected me and brought me back to Dove House. Hearing her fills my heart with such pride.

I cannot thank the hospice enough for brightening me up, I have got some of my independence back again and I feel comfortable enough to be able to be on my own again.

Rachel, Julie’s daughter
Mum being able to come to Dove House for respite meant I didn’t have to worry about her all of the time. I knew she was being cared for every second of the day. The hospice gave me peace of mind, and I could actually relax knowing she was in safe hands. Mum went downhill before Christmas, and I feel like it was coming to Dove House for those weeks that saved her. She was able to come home two days before Christmas; she had perked up. The hospice brought my mum back to me, and I am extremely grateful.