Dove House Hospice is asking the local community to support this year’s Summer Appeal, helping to ensure local people living with life limiting illnesses can access the care, support and wellbeing services they need.
Many people still think hospice care is only available at the very end of life, but Dove House supports people throughout their journey with a progressive life limiting illness, helping them live well, stay connected and find moments of comfort and laughter.
Gaynor is sharing her experience of how Dove House’s wellbeing services have helped her rediscover confidence, friendship and a sense of herself following her diagnosis.
Before becoming unwell, Gaynor worked as a Teaching and Higher-Level Teaching Assistant for 20 years, a career she loved and that gave her purpose and joy. After being diagnosed with a brain tumour and heart disease, she had to give up the work she adored.
Gaynor was unsure about accessing hospice support at first, admitting she felt frightened and had misconceptions about what a hospice could offer. But after taking that first step through the doors of Dove House, she discovered a place very different from the one she had imagined.
Gaynor said:
“My illness took away so many of the things that made me who I was, and I had no choice in that. Leaving a job I loved and sharing my diagnosis with my loving husband Gray, my kind-hearted daughter Holly and my devoted close-knit family, was all incredibly hard to accept.
When it came to accessing support for myself, I was frightened. I'll be honest, I was too nervous to even look at what the hospice had to offer me. I had my own ideas about what a hospice was and wasn't sure I was ready to face it.
Every time I come to Dove House, I discover even more of what the hospice offers. I attend groups I never even knew existed, but now they have become a lifeline. When things are really hard, they're a big part of why I get out of bed in the morning.
Dove House helps make a sad time happier. It doesn't make me forget about my illness, but it helps me put everything that comes with it on pause for a little while. That break is something I need more than I ever realised.
The Dove House wellbeing services have also become such an important part of my journey, that I honestly don't know what I would do without them.”
Jo Norris, Occupational Therapist at Dove House Hospice, said:
“Gaynor’s story shows the profound effect that hospice care can have beyond what many people expect. Our wellbeing services give people the opportunity in a supportive and safe space to be themselves, connect with others, find purpose, feel joy and live life in the way that matters to them.
As an occupational therapist, our well-being groups give me the pleasure of delivering holistic care through meaningful activities and share the amazing outcomes.
We are incredibly grateful to Gaynor for sharing her experience to help us show the community that hospice care is about living well, not just end of life.
Every donation to our Summer Appeal helps us continue providing this vital support to local people and their families.”
Dove House Hospice is hoping to raise £11,000 through this year’s Summer Appeal, helping to fund the services that make such a difference to local people and their families.
To read more of Gaynor’s story or make a donation, please visit: https://www.dovehouse.org.uk/summerappeal
For more information, contact the Dove House Hospice fundraising team on 01482 785 743
or email fundraising@dovehouse.org.uk.
