My lovely husband John, who had end stage heart failure was supported and cared for by St Wilfrid's, until his death on 1st August 2025.

In November 2024, he became very ill and was admitted to the Inpatient Unit and it was thought he was coming towards the end of his life. Against all the odds, John stabilised and was discharged home in January 2025.

He remained at home and John and our family were helped by the community Nurse specialist, community team, the 24 hour Nurse line, Physio team, and counselling service.

The last 10 days of his life, although directly cared for by the NHS community nurses and a care agency, they liaised directly with Nurse line for all medication and care direction. The Hospice, through Nurse Line, was there 24/7 for me and other professionals, enabling a very difficult last journey to be navigated, enabling me to care for John at home until he died. This is something I absolutely know, would have been impossible without Nurse line .

7 years earlier, in 2018, the hospice supported my mum at home, the place she wanted to be. The hospice Nurse Line was there for me 24 hours a day advising, supporting and coordinating the community services. I knew I was only a call away from advice and support day or night. It enabled me to help Mum to be in control of her final journey - to die in the place she loved. We did this together for her and she died very peacefully on 27th July 2018.

On October 23rd 2025, I will be starting a 4-day trekking adventure in the Sahara Desert to support St Wilfrid’s hospice.

I will be trekking on sand, rocks and dried-up river beds, sleeping in tents or under the stars, and there will be no water to wash and the loo is a hole in the sand!

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