Dungannon couple hail ‘lifeline’ help from Hospice at time of need

A DUNGANNON couple have shared their experiences of how the Southern Area Hospice Services helped them cope through a devastating period of their lives.

As part of a new campaign focusing on the impact of the Hospice in the Dungannon area, Vincent Donnelly and Barbara-Anne Richardson said the charity was a lifeline.

In 2019, when Vincent was just 45-years old, he went to the doctor with concerns about reduced mobility, and tests revealed a cancerous lesion on his pelvis.

A week later Vincent suffered a stroke and further tests revealed he had POEMS syndrome, which had caused both the lesion and the stroke.

As the couple struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis, and after a period of recovery, Vincent endured rounds of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and then physiotherapy, increasing his mobility.

He was making progress and working towards greater independence when the pandemic hit, and these vital services were no longer available to him. It was then that Hospice care was first mentioned to Vincent and Barbara.

Barbara-Anne said, “Those first few months of the pandemic were incredibly difficult for us; it was a really scary time for everyone but when you are also living with an illness like Vincent is, it was so frightening and often we felt lost and overlooked.

“Vincent’s mobility really suffered, and he was in constant pain, it was extremely hard on him. He never complained but we all knew he needed help. When respite Hospice care was offered, we were so afraid to accept it. To be honest we were afraid of what it meant, and it took some time for us to agree. But we are so glad we did and in July 2020 we travelled to the In-Patient Unit and Vincent was admitted to Hospice.

“It was nothing like we had imagined and though visiting was still restricted we could sit in the garden and chat in the beautiful summer weather.

“The Hospice had everything Vincent needed right there, he started physio again and Emma the physiotherapist discovered the source of his pain. It was treated straight away by the doctors and that alone made a significant difference to him.”

Vincent stayed in the Hospice for three weeks and got to know everyone including Jenny who has become a great support the family. Vincent now attends the Hospice Day Therapy Centre in Dungannon where Jenny cares for him and where he has regular physio and reflexology sessions.

Barbara-Anne added, “If we were asked to describe Hospice care, we would say it is like being cared for by family – where you are seen as a person not an illness or symptoms to be managed.

“They take time to get to know you. They ask after family members and remember why you were so stressed or upset the last time you spoke; serious illness can be so overwhelming for everyone, and they just ease the burden.

“To anyone reading this, what we both want to tell you is that Hospice care is right here on our doorstep in Dungannon, and it has made such a difference to Vincent and to all of us, so please do not be afraid, it has been a lifeline for us when many doors were closed, and we will never forget their kindness.”

Liz Cuddy, OBE DL, CEO of Southern Area Hospice Services said she wanted their ‘Spotlight on Dungannon’ to create awareness of how they are helping local people.

“I am from Dungannon, and I know the local community are benefiting from the expert care our team deliver across all our services, including that available in the Hospice Day Therapy Centre in South Tyrone Hospital.

“In this Community Outreach Services Team, we have staff nurses, physiotherapy, social worker, counselling, chaplaincy and complementary therapy, all helping local patients and their families through exceedingly difficult times.”

If you would like to learn more about the services they offer please visit www.southernareahospiceservices.org or call 028 3026 7711. You can keep up to date on our social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linked In.