Abbie and her siblings have lived the last few years without their mam, and although it's sad, they're happy with the memories they got to create with her whilst she was with us.

Abbie's mam lived a 10 year-long battle with cancer as her children were growing up, she always fought it, with the support of her amazing family. But after a while she got really unwell and came to the hospice for symptom control. 

"she didn't believe it was the end, we didn't acknowledge it. But I think that was a good think, as we weren't sad. The hospice gave us that time to make those memories.

we were able to do her hair, or to give her a bath. She loved that jacuzzi bath, we bathed her in it every night. Whereas, we wouldn't have been able to do that at home. We wouldn't have been able to get her in and out of the bath ourselves. The nurses were there to do all the things we couldn't do, and give us the opportunity to do the nice things. That's why it's amazing, because I don't have any sad memories that I had to care for my mam."

"She was happy, we were happy. It's strange to say you were happy in the hospice, but we really were. Honestly, we've all got the best memories of it. When we talk about it we all say how amazing it was just to be able to spend that time together. Even me, my sisters and brother, the nurses took us to the side and spoke to us about everything and said 'Look this is what's going to happen' but they were just amazing because they gave us the reality of it but still allowed us to be happy, and looked after my mam. It was a strange experience, because although it was one of the worst things that ever happened to us, we were just able to enjoy it, and that's because of the hospice."

Once she has got her symptom's under control she got to go home and spend more time with her family, but came back to the hospice for end of life care. 

Abbie's family have all been very interested in music and when Abbie lost her mam, her dad asked her to sing a song at her funeral. From that moment she realised wanted to do it, and she knows her mam would be so proud of her doing it.  

"My mam loved music, she told my sister when she was in here 'Music brings everyone together, don't ever lose it'. But it did, it was the pinnacle of our family."

Whilst in lockdown, whilst we all had a bit more time, she put some music to the songs she created and recorded the song she had written for her mum when she passed away - Lost part of me.

We're here to help families create memories and be able to grief the best way that's possible for them. We will always be there for you and we continue to want to help more people in the way that they need us.

If you would like to support us, you can donate online or look at joining Team Teesside as a volunteer. You can also enquire on 01642 811140.

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