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Issue 30
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| October 2021
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Why we’re supporting Light up a Life 2021
By Jema Easdon
way for Mum’s family and friends to get together, have fun and share memories. If it wasn’t for the hospice, Mum’s journey would have been a lot harder for us all. It made things more peaceful and everything about it was dignified. I think the hospice as a whole helped us come to terms with things and cope better. It played a really important part in our lives at that time. We hope you’ll join us and support this year’s Light up a Life appeal so other people can experience the same exceptional care we did. You don’t realise how important the hospice is until you experience it. We never thought we would have to and everyone hopes they won’t. But if they do, you’re helping people who need it and by donating, you’re making other people’s lives easier.
promises were kept. Adam did the Edinburgh Marathon the year Mum passed away to challenge himself and give back to the hospice. At first, I really struggled when she passed away. Although I went back to work, I needed something else to focus on so I decided to do the Edinburgh half-marathon in 2019. It was a big challenge and everyone got behind me and supported.
and became very popular within the ward. We always did a lot together as a family so were still able to do that. All of the staff went over and above not only for Mum, but for our whole family and even Mum’s friends when they visited. They were like our extended family. When Dad and Adam were at work, the volunteers would take Mum and I out on day trips to places like Dobbies. We loved this as we always spent our days off doing something together. Back at home we had amazing support from Helen, Mum’s nurse and she put us in touch with the Respite & Response team. Carole, Maria and Deirdre were fantastic! We were always having a laugh. Carole would take us trips in the ‘Venga bus’. Although communicating became troublesome for Mum, she always managed to still have us in stitches. Many of Mum’s friends will always remember the funny stories. Mum went into the hospice for a second time, three days before my thirtieth birthday. The hospice staff were amazing and let us have a party where family and friends were allowed in. We had a lovely afternoon tea and everyone was made to feel so welcome. Mum was able to go back to bed and still enjoy the
Jema and Adam’s story Our Mum, Liz Easdon, worked in care, she was a nursing assistant in the NHS. She loved her work and caring for others. She was always game for a laugh, her family, friends & colleagues always said she was the life & soul of the party. She’d do anything for anyone, helping folk in their hour of need. She was always laughing, joking and blethering to everyone.
The hospice were with us every step of the way. Mum went in for respite to the hospice for two weeks in 2017 on the terms, “Jema can stay” so I was Mum’s plus one. With Mum and I both working in the NHS we knew a bit about it. After our short stay, I gave up work to look after her. At the hospice, it was like a home from home and I had a wee camp bed in her room. Dad and Adam were allowed in any time. Even our wee dog, Kanye, visited
Mum loved holidays and we were always away on big family holidays. Mum and Dad had a passion for cruising. Mum hated flying but saw lots of lovely places in the world. She had more air miles than anyone we know. A lovely memory for us as kids was Christmas time. It was always a really special time for us as a family. Adam and I used to wake up really early with excitement, Mum and Dad would say it was far too early to get up! Then Mum would be the first down the stairs to see if Santa had been. It’s a lovely honour that people still talk about Mum and shows what a wonderful person she was. Our Mum was sadly diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in February 2016. Mum was always on the go so MND had a massive impact on her life. Throughout her illness, Mum never let it get her down, although times were hard, she still managed to laugh.
Liz was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2016
Adam ran the marathon again at the same time so we made it a family event. We also had a fundraising night for Mum at Parks Bowling Club in Irvine exactly a year after she passed away as a way of celebrating her life. Local businesses donated and we had a raffle to raise a bit more money for the hospice. We thought it was a good
party. She loved the day. The hospice were always so accommodating to us and the staff were all just angels – they did things for us we never thought were possible.
We were looked after as a whole family with exceptional care. The
hospice made life so much easier for us by taking the stress out of everything. We put up photos in her room and Adam and Dad stayed in the ‘Wee House’ in the hospice gardens. It was a home away from home for us. Sadly on 20th February 2018, Mum passed away peacefully and dignified at rest. We were surrounded by angels…simply the best! All staff were there to support us and they made an awful situation the best it could be and all
Jema & Adam’s loving mum, Liz
“At the hospice, it was like a home from home.” Jema Easdon
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