Hi I’m Sheila and I have recently been attending Overgate’s Virtual Day Hospice.
I have been battling cancer on and off for the last six years, with numerous invasive treatments and countless trips to hospital. But 18 months ago I was told that there was nothing more that the doctors could do other than provide pain relief. This was devastating and I felt abandoned, unsure of what to expect or where to turn to for help. Eventually, I was put in touch with the Palliative Care Nurses who were incredible and gave me the support I needed.
The nurses then put me in touch with Angela at Overgate’s Day Hospice for additional support and advice. I was invited to attend their weekly sessions that take place via Zoom however I am not very good with technology so this didn’t seem like the right thing for me. But one of the nurses from the Hospice came to my house to help me to log on to the session and after a few weeks I felt confident enough to do this myself.
These sessions have been invaluable to me over the last few months, providing me with much needed interaction, conversations with other people in a similar position and some fun. I enjoy the activities with Naomi; she is so full of energy and creativity!
I had also been considering a stay in Overgate’s respite bed to help me with my symptoms and this week I visited the Hospice. I was amazed. It is such a calm place to be and every single smiling face made me feel special. I have booked in for a week of respite care in June and am looking forward to this.
I now know that I can turn to Overgate for help with whatever the future holds for me and this means so much.
Click here for information on our Day Hospice