An end-of-life care charity in Renfrewshire has opened its summer appeal by sharing a story of a heart-wrenching instance of the vital service they provide.
St Vincent’s Hospice needs to raise £6,000 every day to keep supporting people in their moment of need.
One person who the charity has helped has shared their story of the sensitive and critical intervention that allowed her to honour her partner’s dying wish.
Margaret, who wished to keep her surname and location private, lost her husband Peter, an Army veteran, after he was diagnosed with an oropharyngeal tumour in 2022.
Alongside Peter’s diagnosis, Margaret also had a benign brain tumour and had been having seizures. They were living in very challenging circumstances in a very remote area. They had no landline and they were both very vulnerable.
However, St Vincent’s staff stepped in to support the elderly couple through an extremely tough time.
Community nurse specialist Helen Wills, had been visiting Peter and Margaret, providing care and support at home.
Helen contacted Paula Burns, the hospice’s inpatient unit manager to discuss the complex care needs that Peter had, and asked about the possibility of admitting him to the inpatient unit at the hospice.
Peter had been reluctant to go, preferring to stay at home, but Margaret was struggling to provide the care that he needed and she was becoming increasingly more anxious and overwhelmed each day with her health also declining.
Peter eventually accepted the move after reassurances from Helen and Paula who visited him and Margaret at their home that Maragert would be able to move in with him to the hospice to see out his final days.
Peter’s condition deteriorated rapidly and he died the following day after being admitted to the hospice, with Margaret lying in the bed next to him.
With no family or friends nearby Margaret was anxious about arranging Peter’s funeral.
She was extremely grateful and relieved that the hospice team were able to continue, after Peter’s death, to support, advise and assist making the arrangements.
Margaret expressed her thanks to the hospice staff, saying: “I am so grateful to the team at St Vincent’s Hospice. Peter had a good death and I was next to him.
“He would not have died peacefully without the hospice and I would have had to live with that. I have peace in my heart that it was the right decision and will always treasure that.
“I can’t express how grateful I am to the hospice, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to support me.”
Margaret shared her story in the hope that it will help persuade people to financially support the incredible work the hospice does.
St Vincent’s individual giving manager, Hayley Simpson, said: “We must raise £6000 every single day of the year to keep the hospice running.
“We want to make sure we continue to be there for people like Peter and Margaret, at the worst time in their lives. We can only do that if we continue to receive donations.
“Any gift, large or small is so greatly appreciated.”
To donate to the hospice, visit https://bit.ly/3JH3NPv
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