We smiled and started to relax in the hospice as we felt safe and supported with Dave's breathing, which was so frightening. During one breathing episode, Dave accidently turned the shower on a poor nurse and completely soaked her and we laughed so much over that, as Dave was so embarrassed!

We also sat and talked in the beautiful garden and spent time together, that I will always remember. Dave also loved meeting the hospice therapy dogs and really enjoyed the pudding Eton mess although he had no appetite.

We talked to staff openly about practical things and the emotional side of terminal illness. After Dave's death, Chris from family support, continued to call me to see how I was doing which I really appreciated and it helped so much as she knew Dave.

I rang the SinglePoint service on the morning Dave died and the nurse called me back four times to check if we were ok whilst she organised help for us. I will never forget the kind voice on the phone that supported me and gave me practical instructions helping me to make Dave comfortable in the last hour or so of his life.

Death and dying are not things we want to think about or talk about, but St Helena Hospice make such a difference to the patients they support and their families.

I have written these words on Dave's birthday, as I reflect over the last few months and think I really don`t know how we would have managed without St Helena Hospice and all the care and kindness shown to us by all of the staff working for the hospice.