It was transformative to receive such uplifting support

Frank Dunbar’s wife, Terri, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, before later
receiving the diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). When Dr Kershaw’s
Hospice at Home and Caring Hands Teams started to support Terri in her final
weeks, Frank, who had been her main carer throughout her illness, found the
Hospice’s Community Services to be transformative, giving him the strength to
return to being by Terri’s side as her husband, rather than her carer before she
sadly passed away at the age of 70 on 23rd August 2021…

“Terri and I had been married for almost 50 years, and had two children, Sarah and Matthew. Sarah is a Senior Lecturer at Salford University and has a son, Thomas. Matthew is a Graphic Designer in London and has a son, Frankie. I met Terri whilst we were at school in Tottenham, London, when we were aged only 17 and 18.

Prior to her illness, Terri had a successful career, initially starting as a Primary School Teacher, then moving into Logistics Management for the NHS and various other companies before retraining as a Nurse, eventually becoming Head of Continence Services.

Following our retirement, we made the move from London to Saddleworth, making the bold step to retire on the Thursday and relocate on the Friday! From our new home in Saddleworth, myself and Terri both signed up to volunteer at The Royal Oldham Hospital, serving refreshments to the patients and we did this for almost four years.

Terri’s hobbies included aerobics, swimming and walking and we were even members of the National Trust. She also loved the theatre and regularly took our grandson, Thomas. Terri had a wonderful sense of humour, she never complained and had a very positive view of life. She remained laughing and smiling until the very end.

Terri had been diagnosed with Osteoporosis quite a few years ago, but in 2017 was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She was initially given standard medication for Parkinson’s but her illness deteriorated quite rapidly, resulting in her hitting her head several times and even breaking her pelvis. She was then diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Her speech started to become affected, her handwriting illegible and eventually Terri was no longer able to feed herself.

Whilst Terri was able, she attended a weekly Parkinson’s Group based in Oldham. As Terri’s condition deteriorated, the group were very helpful in assisting us to find the right equipment to be used at home, including an air bed, a rise and decline chair, and a stair lift.

Since Terri’s diagnosis, I had always been her main carer, but as her health deteriorated it became more and more challenging to provide the support and care that Terri needed. We were referred to the Dr Kershaw’s Community Team and for the two weeks before Terri sadly died, the Caring Hands and Hospice at Home Teams came in and helped us, I can truly say that their support was both transformative and uplifting.

From the first day that they entered our home, the team were absolutely fantastic! I stopped being Terri’s carer and started being her husband again. The Hospice Team were proactive and a delightful set of people who, at all times, handled Terri in a very dignified and uplifting manner.

Every member of the team was kind, thoughtful, and compassionate and provided such wonderful support for my wife. Every day they brought with them compassion mixed with efficiency, a perfect combination.

During a time when your emotions and physical reserves are at a low, it was transformative to receive such uplifting support. To feel that someone else who was so experienced and so kind was taking the reins, changed my view of the world and gave me the strength to spend time as Terri’s husband rather than her carer during her final days. My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the teams at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.”