My Story

After a 6 year battle with prostate cancer, my Dad was admitted to Guildford Hospital in July 2021. A potentially fatal blood clot had formed in his body. Very early one morning we were told to come to the hospital to say our goodbyes to Dad, but were not able to stay with him in what we thought were his final hours, due to COVID-19 restrictions. It was by far and away the toughest moment of my life.

Later that day, Dad was given the option to take a blood clot busting drug, which from memory had a less than 50% chance of working. Fortunately for him, it did work, and he went on to survive another 3/4 weeks. We potentially had the chance to say hello to him again!

As mentioned though, COVID-19 restrictions meant that now only Mum could visit him for limited hours, and no one else. 

A shortage of homecare nurses meant that he couldn't be released from hospital either. It was torture not being able to see him again, with him essentially being in a ward, with the occasional visit from doctors, nurses & Mum. This went on for 10 days.

Luckily for us and Dad, St Catherines Hospice came to the rescue! They provided Dad with homecare nurses, which allowed him to be at home for his remaining time on earth.

He took full advantage of this, with a constant stream of visitors stopping by the family home to say hello (and goodbye) to him. He got to watch a shed load of sport on tv too!

It also meant Mum, John, Becky, and I got to be by his side for his final breaths, something that would not have otherwise been possible.

I will be eternally grateful for what St Catherines Hospice did for our family, for making Dad as comfortable as possible in his final few weeks, allowing him to say his final goodbyes to his huge network of friends and family, and pass away peacefully where he wanted to.