Sandra's story

We speak with 60-year-old Sandra, who recently explored the services on offer at Hospice in the Weald, with her husband, for the first time after a health diagnosis. From Living Well to Outreach support, she shares her thoughts – including some initial surprise… 

Sandra and her young family moved to Sevenoaks 23 years ago and, although she has always donated to Hospice in the Weald shops, her busy life and growing children meant she never had the chance to attend an open day. Her first visit to the Hospice in Pembury, although long delayed, provided her with a series of surprises. 

After visiting the Hospice in Pembury, Sandra said “it felt like it has a heart” with the community feeling and how staff listen to people to understand their needs. “All the people we have met are positive, having fun and enjoying what they are doing. I think that positivity spreads right through the environment, so there is this feeling in the whole place. That sense of positivity means that I can have fun, well, maybe not fun times, but some good times.”  

Another surprise for Sandra was just how quickly the Hospice mobilised its support. “The fact that Outreach were in touch right away is astonishing, and there is now a regular call to understand my history, to see how I am doing, and they are already liaising with my oncology team,” she continued.  

Sandra hopes that her donations to the charity shops over the years will have made a difference to people, like her now, who can benefit from the support of the Hospice. “I’d like to think that our many, many donations over the past 23 years or so have helped contribute some funding to the Hospice,” she states. “My family will not be changing our focus and will still be making donations.”