Sylvia’s story
Sylvia Brown, 77, from Kidderminster spent time at Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury when we cared for her sister.
My sister went into the Hospice coming up to ten years ago now. She spent time there twice before she unfortunately lost her battle with cancer. The first time she spent ten days there whilst they sorted out her medication and they did an absolutely marvellous job.
I was filled with trepidation when she was going in the Hospice because I didn’t understand hospices, I didn’t understand what they did and I definitely had no experience of Severn Hospice. I went with her the day she was admitted, stayed to settle her down and visited her daily after that and I actually feel quite humbled by the experience. I didn’t see anyone there that was unhappy, I didn’t see anyone there that was in pain, it was a very positive atmosphere and the people were nice, I actually made friends there.
The staff were wonderful, the atmosphere was so loving and caring from the moment I got there with my sister. When she was admitted they took her into their hearts. It was all first names; we didn’t know them by official titles. The peace and tranquillity in the surroundings alone unwound me as I had been looking after my sister at home and it was stressful.
When she came home she had about six or seven weeks of really good quality time because she was able to go out, albeit in a wheelchair. We put the chair in the car and took her out on trips and she actually said to me ‘I’ve had the best six weeks of my life’ which is a strange thing to say knowing that she was terminally ill.
Unfortunately she had to be admitted for just under a week at the end of her life but even then I didn’t see her in pain and I didn’t see her unhappy. It did make a difference to her family, to her children and it made a difference to me because we were always very close from young children, right through to the end. I was actually there with her the night she died. I shall be eternally grateful to Severn Hospice. I would never hesitate to go in there myself and I can’t say more than that.
