Jen shared her experience at Teesside Hospice with us and how we made last Christmas so special for her and her family:
"In November 2023, life was going to plan. As a family, we’d had a lovely summer, we’d moved into our family forever home, and everything just felt perfect. Little did we know that 2 weeks later, our lives would be torn apart.
After experiencing abdominal pains, Lee was referred for a CT scan, and a rare, aggressive form of Cancer had been found. This had spread to his other organs and was now considered stage 4.
Nothing can ever prepare you for facing a situation like this. Lee was facing his mortality, and I was facing losing my soulmate, and raising our 3 children alone.
I was concerned about managing Lee’s pain at home. But a visit to the hospice made me realise that we had help there. Lee's health declined rapidly in December 2024. From the moment we arrived at the hospice, it felt like home. We were welcomed by the doctors and the nursing staff, and they became our adopted family.
Very quickly, the doctors recognised that we all needed support. And the care that they showed was phenomenal. As experts who specialise in palliative care, they were not only there for Lee, but they were there to support the whole family.
I was amazed when the doctor asked us if we had made plans for Christmas. Because until that point, my only thoughts were how we were going to get through Christmas with our lives torn apart. She suggested that we could make pans, even if they were only in pencil, and so we did.
Lee’s first wish was to go to church on Christmas Eve, something that we had done for over 20 years. His second wish and the one most important to him, was to be able to read the book ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ to his children. This book had been bought for our daughter when she was born 16 years ago, and it had become a tradition that every Christmas Eve, the children would get their pjs on, climb into our bed, and Lee would read the story.
The hospice made this happen, and in doing so, it allowed us to record Lee reading the story, and we will have that for years to come for the children to listen to. On Christmas Day, the staff woke him very early to administer his medication, and they got him dressed and ready, and he was there, and he saw them open their presents. As heartbreaking as it was, it brought us a lot of peace.
When Lee was admitted to the hospice, his brother wanted to give back. And so, at the very last minute, he arranged to do the Boxing Day Dip along with other members of the family including our 2 daughters. Lee wanted to be there for that too, so again, the hospice helped to make that happen.
And we went, on Boxing Day, and we watched 18 of our family members run into the North Sea.
Having the hospice by our side made such a difference. They made a very difficult time, easy to manage. I truly believe in my heart that we were able to have these experiences because of the care and support that the hospice provided.
My husband was no longer scared of dying, and was actively encouraged to live his life the best he could. We were wrapped in a big blanket, and given a big hug, and made to feel safe. They showed compassion, support, and empathy, at one of the darkest times of our lives.
As we head towards Christmas, I know there will be other families who will need the care and compassion that we received last year. I would ask at this time, please consider making a donation to Teesside Hospice’s Big Give Christmas Challenge. Every donation they receive will be doubled.
The hospice gave us the space, and allowed me to be a wife, and not just be a caregiver. Please support the hospice."
By donating today via our Big Give platform today, you’re helping families like Jen’s make precious moments together this Christmas, and moments that will be remembered forever.
Double your donation today and make a difference to your local hospice this Christmas!
We're changing lives across Teesside by supporting people and families who've been affected by a terminal illness.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to corporate supporter Ramsdens for funding a whole day of care at Teesside Hospice – a remarkable contribution of £18,500!
A huge thank you to B&Q Stockton for choosing Teesside Hospice as their local charity to receive £1,000 worth of products and for completely transforming the entrance to our hospice!
We appreciate everything you've all done this year to champion Teesside Hospice!
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