Still me, Katie’s story still living “
Katie speaks openly about how hospice care transformed her life - and her view of what a hospice is. Keech isn’t just for the end. It’s helped me live now - with joy, dignity and confidence. “
When a community occupational therapist suggested Keech Hospice, Katie was unsure. “I thought I wasn’t ill enough. But a friend said, ‘Just go.’ So I did. I told my partner I was taking him on a date - to the hospice.” An open day at Keech changed everything. “It didn’t feel clinical. It felt warm, welcoming. Like somewhere I could be Katie again.” Since then, Keech has been a lifeline. Katie now takes part in physiotherapy, gardening group, and receives support from the palliative rehab team. “They remember my name. I’m treated as a person, not a patient. That makes all the difference.”
At just 36, Katie Moran never imagined she’d need a hospice. A confident, ambitious woman from Liverpool, she’d built a thriving career in the travel industry and relocated to Luton for work. But in 2019, a seizure led to the discovery of a benign brain tumour and epilepsy. Then, in 2023, Katie suffered a life-changing stroke while on holiday in Rhodes. Airlifted home, she faced weeks in hospital, a cancer diagnosis, and the devastating news that her tumour had become aggressive and incurable. “I was 36 and discharged with one side of my body not working. I thought they were going to make me better.” Katie struggled through cancer treatment and stroke recovery, feeling invisible and overwhelmed. “I couldn’t walk or dress myself. I wasn’t being treated as a whole person.”
She’s also been supported to plan ahead, something that’s brought real peace of mind. “I’ve chosen my funeral songs, sorted the paperwork. Now I can stop worrying and get on with living - time is precious.” Now 37, Katie is even planning a return to work from home. “Keech has given me confidence to think about the future again. That independence means everything.” Her message is clear: “Don’t rule out hospice care. Come to an open day. You might be surprised - just like I was.”
Read Katie’s story
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