The relief when mum came home was immense

Former Dr Kershaw’s volunteer, Christina Rees, supported the Hospice for many
years helping on reception and at events. After she had a stroke in September
2021, and was hospitalised for 99 days, her daughter, Wendy Rees, fought for
her to come home into the care of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice at Home Team. With the
Hospice’s support, Christina arrived home just before Christmas and was able to
spend the last days of her life side by side with her daughter in the comfort of their
own home before she sadly passed away, aged 86 on New Year’s Eve 2021…

“Mum was married to my dad, Terence, who sadly died in his 60’s, he had been in the Navy and they got married in Malta, living there for 3 months. Mum had myself and my brother, Michael, three grandchildren, David, Luke, and Rebecca, and a beautiful, ruby King Charles spaniel called Honey. After dad died, she met Harry and they were together for 15 years before he passed away in 2019.

Mum worked as a secretary at Shaw Town Hall, then in the planning department at Oldham Council before becoming secretary at Our Ladies School. She was also Secretary to the Town’s Women’s Guild, becoming President in her last years there. She always wanted to give back, volunteering for Cancer Relief with dad when they were younger and then supporting Dr Kershaw’s for many years after she retired.

Mum was brave, kind, loving, giving, funny and a loyal friend; a traditional war baby who would go to three shops just to save £1. We had many holidays together abroad to Paris, Sorrento, Prague, and lots of coach trips in the UK to Bath and the Cotswolds. Our last trip to Bath included a visit to Highclere Castle and Brampton, which was a highlight as she loved to watch Downton Abbey.

I moved back in with mum in 2015 when I had to give up my nursing job due to ill health, I was devastated but mum never let me down, we were a team and a rock to each other.

Mum was a stoic lady who had survived major heart surgery. She would be up and dressed each day, reading the Daily Mail from cover to cover. She liked to walk and was always on the go, so it was a huge shock when she had a sudden stroke in September 2021. She was in hospital for 99 days, during which she really battled to get better and come home. With Covid still rampant, visiting was restricted to an hour a day and at one stage I wasn’t allowed to see her for a week which was hell. I fought to bring her home, and in mid-December was finally able to do so.

When the Hospice at Home Team started to support mum, I knew immediately she was in good hands and I didn’t have to battle for her anymore. The relief was immense.

The nurses recognised mum, an ex-volunteer, and made some lovely comments about her which meant the world to both of us. They made sure she was treated with so much dignity and respect. Everything was done right, there was no rush, and knowing that they were only a call away was such a comfort and reassurance.

The nurses were so caring and compassionate, nothing was too much trouble. You want the best for your loved one and the Hospice Team give that. They know exactly what is needed, they know how you’re feeling and do everything they can to support you by taking the weight off you. I remember thinking she needs to have a syringe driver now, I’ll have to ask about it, and I opened the door to see one of the nurses with one. Another night mum needed a prescription and one of the nurses went to the pharmacy late in the evening to collect it, again taking the stress away from me.

My mum had a very peaceful death, with dignity and care. When she passed away they came to take care of everything, and it helped so much that they knew exactly what needed to be done.

Thank you to each and every nurse for the tremendous support for my mum, ensuring that she had appropriate end-of-life medication so that her journey to the next life was as comfortable as possible. From the bottom of my heart I will be eternally grateful for the care mum received.”