Ian and Susan’s story

Just over ten years ago, I knew nothing about hospice care. If I thought anything about hospices, it was that they were a place people went to die.

But when my wife Susan was diagnosed with life-limiting glioblastoma and referred to St Barnabas House in Worthing, it didn’t take long to correct my misconceptions. I was so impressed with the care Susan received that I decided to leave the hospice a gift in my Will, as well as financially supporting the charity in my lifetime.

Shocking news

In spring 2014, life was good for Susan, and for me. She had just retired and was looking forward to having more time to indulge her passion for sport, particularly golf and tennis. That summer, we moved from Horsham to Storrington, and we both anticipated a happy retirement with plenty of travel.

Just seven weeks after our move, Susan was on the golf course when she suffered the seizures that were our first indication that anything was wrong.

She went by ambulance from the golf club at Mannings Heath to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, accompanied by two friends. I was away from home officiating a golf tournament in Hertfordshire and I rushed back to be by her side.

Soon afterwards, we received the shocking news that she had life-limiting glioblastoma – a fast-growing type of brain tumour. After a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, we saw some marginal improvements. However, just a month later Susan’s condition became markedly worse, and she had surgery, which stabilised her condition for about three months.

St Barnabas’s loving care

Then, in May 2015, Susan’s health deteriorated very significantly, and she was offered palliative support. That was our first introduction to St Barnabas and the hospice’s loving care.

Susan was very brave, and St Barnabas provided a wonderful support during those few months.

To begin with, we had care and support from the Hospice at Home nurses, which allowed her to remain comfortably in her own space for as long as possible. Susan also spent many happy days in what was then the day hospice, which gave her so much pleasure and comfort.

Then, for her last four weeks, she was an in-patient at St Barnabas. When she passed away in November 2015, it was a dignified and loving occasion. The nurses who cared for Susan were just amazing – and they looked after me too.

A gift to the future

I felt so grateful to St Barnabas for everything it had done for us and once I’d got myself together, I threw my energy into supporting the organisation – fundraising and giving talks to spread the word about local hospice care. But while it was easy to see what I could do while I was alive, I also wanted to think about what would happen after I died. It’s for that reason that I decided to leave a gift to St Barnabas in my Will.

In a way, I think of it as my gift to the future. Nobody knows what’s going to happen to us – when we’re going to fall ill or die, or what care we’re going to need.

One thing I do know is that making a Will and arranging to include St Barnabas in it has brought me real peace of mind. It’s wonderful to know that my support will still be making a difference, even when I’m not here to see it.

That’s why I would urge you to consider a gift to St Barnabas in your own Will, once you’ve taken care of your own loved ones. Any financial contribution, no matter its size, will help safeguard St Barnabas’s loving care for the future – so more people like Susan can die with the dignity they deserve.