Page 5 - Autumn Newsletter_Flipbook 2020
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St Catherine’s understood how important
it was for us to have Mum at home
“It was hard to hear, but as soon as we were told Mum needed end of life care, it really helped us to prioritise what was important
to us as a family, to create a peaceful environment at home for her final weeks, and to spend quality time together. We would have
been denied those special moments if it wasn’t for St Catherine’s, and I will remember that for the rest of my life.”
months ago. After being separated “Maxine was also very realistic and honest
when she was admitted to hospital about what would be best for Mum,” Joanne
in the early stages of lockdown, added. “We thought that she would be able
the family was determined to keep to walk again, but Maxine explained that
her comfortable at home. we were at the ‘end of life care’ stage, and
it changed our perspective completely. She
“We were referred to the St helped us to understand that our priority
Catherine’s Clinical Nurse needed to be about making Mum feel
Specialist (CNS) team, I can’t tell included and calm, so we played her
you how much of a difference it favourite music and relatives would visit every
made,” Joanne said. “Our nurse day. Instead of focusing on the practical
Maxine understood how things, we were able to enjoy just being a
important it was for us to have family again, and Mum died peacefully in her
Mum at home. It was such a relief own home surrounded by her loved ones,
to have her support. which is all we wanted.”
Joanne Hindle felt like she was ‘drowning’
“It was such a worrying time for everyone, Maxine also visited the family on the day
when she was caring for her beloved mum
and it just felt like a weight was lifted as soon Sandra died, and offered guidance about
Sandra at their Leyland home during the
as Maxine walked through the door. We were what to do next, such as arranging a funeral
height of the pandemic. Along with her dad
out of our depth, and she just took ownership in the current climate.
Trevor and her brothers, Joanne did
of the situation and our little bubble; she got
everything she could to help keep Sandra
Mum’s medication and pain under control, “It was a bewildering and overwhelming
out of hospital.
she advised about food and drink, and she time,” Joanne said. “But Maxine gave us
arranged to get Mum a new bed to make her confidence and encouragement, and
Sandra had final stage Alzheimer’s and
more comfortable.” prepared us for what was to come.”
was found to have a tumour on her lung 18
Lottery win came at the perfect time
Becoming a mum brought a change of luck for Jacqueline Gibirdi who landed the £2,000 weekly jackpot in the St Catherine’s lottery.
The timing was perfect with Jacqueline’s maternity pay about to run out
from her job as a teacher. Son George was treated to new toys while
Jacqueline and husband Chris enjoyed a weekend break in Yorkshire.
“We’d been stuck in during lockdown so it was nice to get away, and
the winnings gave us a financial buffer before I went back to school in
September,” she said. “We like to support the hospice because it’s a
great place and provides wonderful care for so many people.
“It’s been a hard time for the hospice which had to cancel its usual
fundraising events because of the pandemic. We also like to go to
The Mill to meet friends for lunch, or a coffee and cake,
so I’m really pleased the café is open again.”
Chris has also now signed up for The care of one in
the lottery, which costs just £1 10 of our patients is
funded by lottery members.
a week to join.
There’s a weekly £2,000 jackpot It remains one of our most reliable
plus other cash prizes, including sources of income because knowing
a rollover which can reach we can depend on your £1 a week
£5,100. Please visit
allows us to plan and budget
for the future. www.stcatherines.co.uk
or call 01772 695298 to join 5