Page 5 - Autumn Newsletter_Flipbook 2020
P. 5

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
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