Donna's wellbeing transformed in just two weeks at the hospice

“I feel like a completely different person. The hospice has given me a future, a reason to look forward.”

In Hospice Care Week, North Devon Hospice is thanking supporters from across North Devon for their kindness and dedication in helping to fund a lifeline of care for local patients and families facing a life-limiting illness.

Patients like Donna Souch, from Woolsery, who recently discovered the difference made by North Devon Hospice, after a stay on their Bedded Unit. For many years she has been living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD, which is an incurable lung condition. On top of this, she was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx. A normally busy and outgoing person, Donna found herself at her lowest ebb.

“I’ve been in and out of hospital, and recently it felt like I had no life at all,” said Donna. “I could barely get out of bed, and my mental health was really bad. I never used to be an anxious person, I didn’t have time to be! But I’ve gone from having the odd panic attack to not being able to leave the house. That’s when I said to my doctor, that I needed to go somewhere where my mental health can be addressed, as well as my COPD.”

Donna’s doctor got in touch with North Devon Hospice, where she stayed on the Bedded Unit for two weeks. “It was the best decision I have ever, ever made,” she said. “I feel like a completely different person, and it’s down to the amazing hospice nurses here. I’ve told them that I probably wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them. They’ve addressed every issue I’ve had, at my own pace, and I’m starting to do things for myself. I can have a quality of life now that I never imagined before.”

Donna says that the time she’s been afforded by the hospice staff has made the biggest difference to her. “They have sorted my medication and made me feel better, but the biggest thing is that they’ve just listened to me. They’re never looking at their watch, they just sit and be with me, which has given me the confidence to move forward. I’ve not met a staff member who hasn’t gone above and beyond, bending over backwards to help me.”

Donna has experienced this same caring manner at all hours. “The other night I couldn’t sleep. It was three o’clock in the morning, but the nurse brought me a cup of tea and we just chatted away. It was just what I needed to feel calm again. It doesn’t matter what time it is, night or day, they’re ready to sit with you and hold your hand.”

Part of Donna’s condition means that she has long struggled to eat, at one point ending up in hospital with malnutrition. But during her stay at North Devon Hospice, she has rediscovered her love for food.

“Yesterday, I managed to eat properly for the first time in years. I should have put balloons out, I was so happy! But it was just so lovely to taste proper food.” She said. “I had a roast dinner and the best tuna sandwich I’ve ever had! I happened to mention that I love avocado, and the next thing I know they’ve cooked me prawns and avocado! People might think that it’s only food, but it makes such a difference.”

Even Donna’s family have seen the positive difference in her. “My Dad came to visit and just put his arms around me. He said he was so happy to see a bit of the old Donna coming back,” she said. “He’s not an emotional man, so I could tell what it meant to him. My husband is also really relieved that I’m eating well here at the hospice. It almost makes me tearful to think how nice people have been to me. I just cannot praise the hospice team enough.”

All this care has resulted in a dramatic change in Donna’s physical and mental health. “I still have a long way to go, and I know that my conditions are incurable, but this place has changed my outlook completely. I’m more positive now and have a better quality of life. They’ve given me a future, something to look forward to.”