At one of the most difficult moments in life, having the right care makes all the difference.
Hospice care provides specialised support focused on comfort, dignity and the things that matter most to patients and their families. For Poppy and her family, the Hospice first felt frightening, but soon became a place where they felt safe, supported and cared for in ways they never expected.
Poppy lives in Castleford with her two sons, Jack and Harry, aged 12 and 16. When she was told her cancer was terminal and she may only have weeks to live, the news was devastating.
When hospice care was suggested, it frightened her. She remembers thinking: “People go to hospice when they are really dying.” But after arriving at the hospice, she said: “I actually felt more alive here”.
Before coming into the hospice, Poppy first met one of our hospice team at her home for a counselling session. The counsellor talked her through the different services the Hospice can support families like hers, offering reassurance and guidance at a time when they needed it most.
Poppy quickly realised the hospice was not what she had imagined. Instead, she found a place where people listened, took their time and cared deeply about the smallest details.
“When I came in, I was speechless,” she said. “The experience from the very first moment was amazing.”
“They never rush you,” she said. “They plait my hair every day, offer to wash my hair and give me a bath. They even put moisturiser and hand cream on without me asking. It’s the little things that mean so much.”
One day, she mentioned she fancied spaghetti hoops, and a staff member went out to buy them just for her.
“Whatever I ask for, they say yes. And you can tell their kindness is genuine. You know when it’s fake, but this isn’t.”
For Poppy, the care stands out not only for its kindness but for its professionalism. Having worked in nursing roles herself, she recognises the difference.
The professionalism is outstanding. They care with such dignity, and it never feels clinical. It feels like being with friends.
I’ve worked in nursing roles in lots of places, but this is the first place in my life where I’ve seen care this personalised.”
Her mum, Diana, who also has a nursing background, has felt the same reassurance.
“As a mum and as a nursing professional, it’s hard not to step in,” she said. “But here I don’t feel the need. They do everything exactly right.”
The team are there not only for practical care, but also for emotional support.
“Sometimes they hear me crying from the corridor and come straight in just to sit with me,” Poppy said.
They also help her keep doing the things she loves. Poppy enjoys arts and crafts and has been decorating memory bottles and creating a memory box during her stay.
The team have also helped create special family moments, organising a games afternoon and a movie night with her sons, ordering pizza. With support from the Hospice Wellbeing team, Poppy was also able to celebrate her son’s birthday on Saturday 11 April, a milestone she was determined to reach and one that meant the world to her and her family.
For Diana, knowing her daughter is surrounded by this care has brought comfort and peace of mind.
“I wanted to look after her at home,” she said. “But she needed specialist hospice care.”
Now, even when she cannot visit, she knows her daughter is in the right place.
“If I can’t reach her, I panic. I call the unit, and they’re always so reassuring,” Diana said. “I know she is safe here.”
For Poppy and her family, the hospice became more than a place of care. It became the place where they found the support, comfort and dignity they needed most. At exactly the right time.
Find out about all the care we provide here https://www.pwh.org.uk/our-care/
