The Hull facility hopes to raise thousands of pounds via is Summer Appeal
From left: Holly, Gaynor’s daughter; Gray, Gaynor’s husband, and Gaynor.
A user of Dove House Hospice has given an emotional account of how the centre has helped her, as its operators appeal for new funding. The Chamberlain Road facility has launched its Summer Appeal in which it hopes to raise £11,000 for the vital service it provides to the community including caring for people at the end of their life, help for people with life limiting illnesses and giving much needed bereavement support to grieving families.
One of its users, Gaynor, has talked of how Dove House‘s wellbeing services have helped her rediscover confidence, friendship and a sense of herself, amid illness. The former teaching and higher-level teaching assistant enjoyed a 20 year career she loved but was forced to give up having been diagnosed with a brain tumour and heart disease.
Unsure about accessing hospice support, Gaynor had felt frightened and admitted misconceptions about what a hospice could offer. But having visited the east Hull centre, her perceptions changed.
Gaynor said: “My illness took away so many of the things that made me who I was, and I had no choice in that. Leaving a job I loved and sharing my diagnosis with my loving husband Gray, my kind-hearted daughter Holly and my devoted close-knit family, was all incredibly hard to accept. When it came to accessing support for myself, I was frightened. I’ll be honest, I was too nervous to even look at what the hospice had to offer me. I had my own ideas about what a hospice was and wasn’t sure I was ready to face it.
“Every time I come to Dove House, I discover even more of what the hospice offers. I attend groups I never even knew existed, but now they have become a lifeline. When things are really hard, they’re a big part of why I get out of bed in the morning. Dove House helps make a sad time happier.
“It doesn’t make me forget about my illness, but it helps me put everything that comes with it on pause for a little while. That break is something I need more than I ever realised. The Dove House wellbeing services have also become such an important part of my journey, that I honestly don’t know what I would do without them.”
Jo Norris, occupational therapist at Dove House Hospice, said: “Gaynor’s story shows the profound effect that hospice care can have beyond what many people expect. Our wellbeing services give people the opportunity in a supportive and safe space to be themselves, connect with others, find purpose, feel joy and live life in the way that matters to them.
“As an occupational therapist, our well-being groups give me the pleasure of delivering holistic care through meaningful activities and share the amazing outcomes. We are incredibly grateful to Gaynor for sharing her experience to help us show the community that hospice care is about living well, not just end of life.
“Every donation to our Summer Appeal helps us continue providing this vital support to local people and their families.” Those interested in supporting Dove House can do so through the hospice’s website.
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