I visited Claire at The Hospice a couple of times, but when COVID-19 hit, no one wanted to risk her health by visiting. We messaged back and forth a few times, but the medication she was on made her sleepy and she sometimes forgot to reply. Unfortunately, the next time we saw each other was for me to say goodbye, at which point she could no longer talk. 

When we visited Claire in The Hospice we had to wear gloves, masks and aprons. We could also only go in one at a time which was hard, as sometimes you just needed another family member there to hug or to bounce conversation off. I am not complaining; I was just grateful to be able to see her one last time.

Claire already had cancer once in 2011, so when we were told that it had returned in September 2018, we were all devastated, but not as much as when we learned that it was inoperable and therefore terminal. 

It was very hard on the family to know we would be losing her far sooner than was right. 

We made sure we spent Christmas together and as many visits throughout the next 20 months. She lived each day as it came and made many memories.

Almost immediately after Claire’s diagnosis she had a visit from a hospice community clinical nurse specialist (CNS), a lovely lady named Emma. Emma provided emotional support, assistance with getting further support and all the information that Claire and our family needed along the way. Claire confided in Emma and without her, Claire would tell you herself, she didn’t know how she would have coped. Emma would visit Claire frequently, provide a shoulder to cry on, somebody to vent to and to help put things as right as they could be.

Later on, in 2019 CNS Josh took over from Emma and was just as brilliant too, he provided just as much emotional support, practical support and everything that Claire and our family needed.

The rehabilitation team visited her house to help adjust it and make life as easy as possible, providing her with free access and fitting to all the equipment that was needed. The occupational therapists always put a smile on Claire’s face. Without the team visiting, day to day living would have been a lot more difficult.