Deborah, 59, lived in Shoebury. She had three children and 14 grandchildren, the youngest one just six weeks old when she died.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago and had been managing with the condition well. But a couple of chest infections and the range of medication she was on left her feeling so weak that she couldn’t care for herself any longer.
Deborah was admitted to Fair Havens for respite and to get her medication under control and become well enough for her to go home again. However, Deborah had to stay longer than anticipated because her condition progressed, and her mobility had been affected.
Fair Havens was where Deborah wanted to be cared for at the end of her life and spoke to us the week before she died about the hospice.
“There was no way I was going back to hospital. If Fair Havens hadn’t have stepped in, I would have died at home by myself. My body is too tired and weak now. The consultant and I made the decision to stop treatment, even my oxygen, and just treat my symptoms.
“The care here has been fantastic, top notch. The Care Team will help with anything I need. The answer to any question is very rarely no.
“They’ve helped take the pressure of me, too. A Social Worker from the Havens Hospices Wellbeing Team has been speaking with my family about my care and future plans as I was worrying about this.
“I’d been visiting Day Hospice for a while before being admitted to the hospice so I kind of knew what to expect. I did a lot of creative therapy there, making keepsakes and memory boxes for my family, jars to put personal messages in.
“I get emotional that all this care is free, and how generous people are to support the charity which means I can have this quality of care. Fair Havens is so different to anywhere else I’ve experienced. There is always someone on hand to help, care and support me and my family.”
Although Deborah was planning to leave the hospice for a care home, she died peacefully at Fair Havens on Saturday 7th December 2019.
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Published in 2020
Fair Havens is so different to anywhere else I’ve experienced. There is always someone on hand to help, care and support me and my family.
