Rich's story - My mum

My mum was everything to me. She played both the role of mum and dad while raising me and my sister. Life wasn’t always easy for her, she held down three jobs at a time just to make sure we never went without. No matter how little she had, she gave us everything. That’s just the kind of person she was, selfless, strong, and full of love. She was not only a fantastic mum but also a wonderful grandma. She adored her family and gave us all her heart.

In 2019, Mum was diagnosed with womb cancer and had to undergo a full hysterectomy. We all hoped that was the end of it and that she was on the mend. But in early 2022, we received more devastating news: the cancer had returned, and this time it had spread to her left lung. She was diagnosed with stage four, aggressive, terminal lung cancer. I remember sitting beside her at that appointment, holding her hand. It was one of the hardest moments of my life.

As the months passed, Mum began experiencing severe back pain. Further scans revealed two large tumours on her spine. The tumours grew so aggressively that they fractured her spine and compressed the nerves, affecting her ability to walk. In just a couple of months, she went from being the strongest woman I knew to becoming bedbound. Watching her decline was absolutely heartbreaking.

When hospice care was suggested, we didn’t know what to expect. But within 24 hours of being discharged from hospital, Mum arrived at Dove House, and for the first time in a long time, she was pain-free. That moment brought an overwhelming sense of relief. I could see it in her face: she was comfortable, she was cared for, and she was finally at peace.

From the moment we arrived, the team at Dove House wrapped us in kindness. Every single person, from the nurses and doctors to the cooks, cleaners, and receptionists treated us like we were the only family in the world. They asked about me, my sister, how we were coping. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
What stood out most was the time they gave. Time for Mum, time for us. There was no rushing, no clinical coldness, just warmth. We were able to bring in Mum’s dogs, Seth, Doug, and Frankie who curled up on her bed and made her smile. She loved the fresh air, and I’ll never forget wheeling her out into the hospice’s beautiful gardens and sitting together by the pond. She looked so content. Those memories are priceless.
Hospital was hard. It was busy, overstretched, and impersonal. But Dove House was the complete opposite, calm, comforting, and filled with love. They gave us peace of mind at a time when everything felt like it was falling apart. And they gave my mum dignity, care, and comfort in her final days. For that, we are forever grateful.

Since losing Mum, we’ve created a memory page for her through the hospices Much Loved webpage. It means so much to us, a place where she’s remembered, where she still has a space in the world. She was the kind of person who gave everything she had to her family, and that page is one way of honouring the life she gave us.

I genuinely hope no one ever has to use the hospice. But if you do, know that it is the most beautiful place, run by the most beautiful people. Dove House isn’t just a building. It’s a sanctuary. And that’s why we have to keep this place going, for every other family who might need what we were given.