“Since diagnosis in 2015, Mum was never in denial, she was fighting all the way. Mum had an eye removed due to melanoma, but it didn’t stop her being a whirlwind of activity. She was an active gardener, dancer, swimmer, and ‘taxi driver’ for friends who needed to get to their many social clubs. However, last January it became obvious she was struggling living alone and we organised carers to help in the daytime. Then, when all her clubs and activities stopped due to COVID, we had to increase the carer support. I was also going in every morning and evening.
Lockdown and masks increased Mum’s confusion and she deteriorated rapidly. By September 2020 she became physically unwell, but it was difficult for her to express how she felt. Scans showed that, unfortunately, the eye cancer had spread to her liver.
The GP put us in touch with Hospice in the Weald and the lovely Hannie David came to assess Mum and suggested the new Cottage Hospice at Five Ashes might be perfect, as we weren’t sure how long we had. We knew we needed more help to care for mum, but we really didn’t want a nursing home as we probably would never have been able to visit mum in the midst of the pandemic. The thought of that was terrifying. Being at Cottage Hospice meant we were together, which is just the most important thing.”
Bittersweet circumstances, where Alison had been made redundant, afforded her the time to accompany Janet to the Cottage Hospice and they both moved in on 1st December.
