Until her mum's carers told her about the support from St Helena Hospice, Jo had not realised her mum could be referred for support as she believed it was for people with a cancer diagnosis. Jo shares what it meant to her when Pam was admitted to the Hospice.

The care company referred us, they were so fantastic, they knew that mum was coming towards end of life and they referred her to St Helena Hospice. I didn't know you could do that, I thought it was just for cancer. SinglePoint phoned and said a nurse would be with us over the weekend, unbelievable service. Ross phoned the next morning and said he was coming round, and that was the start of mum being here. Within hours she was here and settled, and she has her dignity.

She's now under 24/7 nurse care and medication. It's been a struggle and it's been quite lonely at times, but we're here now and she’s end of life and she's peaceful. I can sit here, be her daughter and just enjoy our time together, listen to André Rieu, hold her hand, just stare at each other, until it’s her time.

All I wanted to do was my best and sometimes it was a real fight with the system, but I feel I'm at peace now as well. I've done my best for my mum, she always did the best for me and my brother. So we feel like we've done it and especially now Tim spiritual care has come and read her last rites and said some prayers, she’d love that. 

Some animals came into the Hospice to visit the patients earlier and Mum actually moved to touch them. She has dementia and she just can't really move, so to see her actually move to touch the animals, that took a lot of strength, that she was really reacting positively to those animals, was lovely. She loved animals, so seeing the animals, what a day, honestly! It made me really, really happy; I've got lovely memories now, what wonderful memories.

If she gains her angel wings tonight, she’ll go a happy woman. So will I.

Every second is so precious now. It's hard; you go home, you want to be here, you’re here you think I should really pop home and see what's going on, but ultimately I want to be here with her.

I just wanted to be a daughter. I don't want to be a decision maker anymore. Decisions are really hard to make when someone's poorly. I wanted someone to make the decisions and that's what's happened. Now I'm her daughter again. 

I know she's in such good hands; I've got back up, it's wonderful. It’s been really, really peaceful, so thank you St Helena Hospice.  

This story may not be published elsewhere without express permission from St Helena Hospice.