Page 4 - Spring Newsletter 2026

Janet’s
story
Janet was cared for by
St Catherine’s at home and in
the Hospice. Below, her daughter
Janice shares their experience.
When Mum’s doctor suggested referring her
to St Catherine’s, we didn’t know what to expect.
Mum was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer
and breast cancer in December 2024. She’d been
given “just months” to live in February 2025, and
by early March, we truly didn’t think she would
survive the month.
With regular visits from nurses Emma and Kelly
and careful symptom management, everything
began to change. Their visits became something
we looked forward to, and they soon felt more like
friends than nurses. Mum was given a number she
could call at any time if her symptoms became
difficult to manage, which meant a great deal to
her when getting a doctor’s appointment felt
challenging. Emma also reviewed and changed
her medication, and within two days her pain
and constant vomiting had completely stopped.
Thanks to their support, Mum went from preparing for as long as possible.
for the end of her life to enjoying a wonderful
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people in our community
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on. It helps us plan ahead and deliver the
specialist care our community needs, when it’s
needed most.
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6 4
Janet and her late younger brother, Tom
summer, out and about every day, playing bingo,
and celebrating her 83 birthday, which she said
rd
was the best she’d ever had. At one point, we
even asked for her diagnosis to be checked again
because she had become so well that we couldn’t
believe it.
"St Catherine’s gave our mum her
summer back and gave us memories
we will treasure forever."
Mum passed away at the Hospice in early
December. We are so grateful she was able to be
there, as her one wish was not to die in hospital.
We feel extremely lucky to have been welcome
for her final days.
If anyone is ever offered support from
St Catherine’s, I want them to know this: it isn’t
about dying. It’s about living as well as possible,
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stcatherines.co.uk/lottery
t. 01772 695298
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stcatherines.co.uk/donate
t. 01772 629171