Christine's Story

When we think about hospice care, our minds turn to our patients and the care and comfort they receive. And rightly so. This is at the very heart of what we do. But the journey of hospice extends beyond that moment, it continues with those left behind.

In my role at the hospice, I meet families every day who are navigating profound loss, parents left to raise young children alone, sons and daughters grieving a mother or father, and all too often, someone facing the devastating loss of their life partner. Our bereavement support and chaplaincy team walk alongside them, offering a hand to hold, a listening ear, and a space to heal. It is one of the most vital and rewarding roles we play.

Today, I want to share Christine’s story with you, it’s a story of love and loss and shows just how much the right support can help, even in the darkest of times.

Christine and her husband Kevin were inseparable. For 43 years, they built a life together, side by side in everything they did. “Where you saw one, you always saw the other,” Christine recalls. When Kevin was diagnosed with cancer, her only thought was to be there for him. As his health declined, they cherished every moment at home, making the most of their time together, as they always had.

When he sadly passed away, the world Christine had known disappeared, she lived alone for the first time in her life, the home they had filled with laughter and conversation was suddenly silent.

A year passed and Christine felt no better, time was not healing her. Encouraged by her niece and following a gentle nudge from her daughter, Christine reached out to Southern Area Hospice. What started as an hour of quiet relief in the capable hands of our reflexologist, Ann, soon became something much more, it became a lifeline.

The reflexology sessions offered a much-needed hour of peace, a sanctuary and escape from the quiet loneliness of her home. As time passed and encouraged by her conversations with Ann, Christine reached out to our bereavement support services.

Through one-to-one counselling and The Bereavement Journey programme, led by our chaplain, Jim, Christine found something she never expected, friendship and hope. In a warm and welcoming group of people experiencing similar loss, who understood her pain, she discovered that grief didn’t have to be faced alone. Each session lifted a little of the burden, replacing sorrow with understanding and isolation with friendship. Slowly, she began to find her way forward.

Then, in 2023, devastating floods forced Christine from her home. Once again, she faced upheaval and uncertainty. But this time, she was not alone. The Drop-In Café at the Hospice became her anchor, a place to feel safe, to belong, and to rebuild.

Looking back, Christine describes the Hospice as the lifeline she never knew she needed. "I didn’t think anything could ease the pain of losing Kevin," she says. "But the kindness I found here, the people who listened, the moments of peace, it all helped me find my way back to living again."

She found her way through grief, learned to smile again at the memories of Kevin, and knew that living a full life is what he would have wanted for her.

Christine has shared her story with you to show the impact of your generosity, to let you see how your support changes lives. And to remind others who may be struggling that they, too, are not alone.

But we cannot do any of this without you.

We need your help to continue providing these vital services, reflexology, bereavement counselling, and safe, welcoming spaces like our Drop-In Café. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps ensure that no one has to face grief alone.

Grief can be overwhelming and having someone to listen can make all the difference. If you can, please donate to support our work, your kindness can bring comfort, connection, and hope to those like Christine who need it most.

If you would like to donate to help pay for breavement counselling for someline Christine who is struggling with a loss of a loved one - Make a donation to Southern Area Hospice Services

Thank you for your generosity.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Emily Murray

Patient and Family Support Team Manager

This story has been shared with the permission and co-operation of Christine.