Laura’s Story…

Despite being afraid of heights, Laura Nash leaped out of a plane and helped raise an impressive £2,388.75 for Dougie Mac.

Laura – who provides free will writing through her role as a solicitor and director at Woolliscrofts Solicitors for Make a Will Month – decided to take part in a skydive after we cared for her Nan and Dad.

“During Covid my Dad, Ant, was diagnosed with a chest infection, but it turned out to be a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma caused by working with asbestos which he only worked with briefly when he was 18 years old,” she said. “He was diagnosed on his birthday – August 3, 2020 – and passed away in February 2021. He was 67 years old.

“When he was diagnosed, he was referred to Dougie Mac and was given care at home. He was adamant he wanted to be in the hospice but because it was lockdown it was a difficult time and so he stayed at home.

“The nurse from Dougie Mac came out to Dad and he was on a morphine drip. By this time, he couldn’t swallow and the cancer had spread to his brain. Once he went into a coma he passed very quickly – within two days.

“On the day he passed we had a Dougie Mac nurse with us. She told us all to go for a rest which we did but when she knew dad was nearing the end she called us to be at his bedside.

“Dad loved wine and had a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape which he was saving for a special time. We decided to open the bottle and we put a little of the wine on a sponge so he could taste it.

“The nurse told us to talk as even though dad was in a coma he would still be able to hear us. My mum, brothers and myself were all with Dad in his last days and that night we drank the wine and shared a takeaway and talked about times we had had with Dad. We laughed and cried. We had a lovely final night for Dad.

“After Dad died the nurse dealt with the practical side which enabled us to say our goodbyes. She was very, very helpful.

“I struggled afterwards and saw a grief counsellor at Dougie Mac for about 12 months which was a huge help.”

This was Laura’s second experience of Dougie Mac as her Nan also used the service following a cancer diagnosis in 2010.

“Nan used the day care centre in Dougie Mac and towards the end spent a month in the hospice,” said Laura. “The cancer had spread to her brain, she became very poorly and passed away in the hospice. The staff were amazing and unbelievably supportive. We spent Christmas in the hospice as a family and they also provided us with respite.

“Nan loved it at the hospice and found comfort from attending with her new friends that she’d made and that was all thanks to the amazing staff who treated her like a friend rather than a patient. When they treat a family member like that it makes all the difference.”