Linda’s story
Linda Poole, 61, from Lilleshall, has been volunteering for the Hospice for over twenty years.
I first heard about the Hospice after chatting to someone who suggested I volunteer at the Hospice shop in Wellington. I volunteered at the shop for ten years; I used to dress the window and help raise funds.
When they first opened a day centre in Telford I was asked if I wanted to volunteer caring for patients. I didn’t know if it was for me, we didn’t know what to expect but it worked out lovely. It was just like going to someone’s house for the day. We’re just one big happy family.
Portway House was very different to the new building. It’s just amazing the facilities we have now.
As a volunteer I’ve always told people that our main job is to be a listening ear for patients. Some might take three months before they open up and some want to tell you everything in the first two minutes. The main thing is to listen.
We greet the patients as they arrive, have a coffee and chat about how they have got on during the week. If they want to talk about hospital visits they can. Some of our patients don’t want to worry their families but feel they can talk to us, a lot of patients say we’re like family. If they want to see a doctor they can and if they need putting in touch with a social worker we can do that.
At lunchtime we serve our patients a lovely meal and I always joke that I have been up all night making the meal. They ask me ‘What time did you get up this morning Linda?’ and I tell them ‘Well I was scrumping the apples at 3, I was milking the cows for the custard at 4 and met the man from Del Monte at 5 for the peaches’ and it makes them laugh. Anything that makes them laugh and puts a smile on their face. We always say if patients go home smiling we’re happy.
Twenty years ago I had cancer myself; I was given a year to live and told to make my funeral arrangements. My children were still young, it was just devastating. At the time there was little support available. I know how I felt even though my husband and family were lovely you still feel like you’re on your own fighting your own corner.
I thought I never want a patient here to go through that and if they do I want to be there to support them. I know how they feel and I am able to give them loving support and hope for the future. I think no matter what the diagnosis you always need hope.
I can’t believe it’s been 20 years; I have to pinch myself sometimes.
