Pauline’s Legacy

“My first experience of Dougie Mac was in 1989 when my Uncle was a patient in the hospice. He’d never married and my Mum and Aunty looked after him. When he was admitted to Dougie mac, he said he ‘felt like a King’ as he was treated so well, and we saw for ourselves the amazing care he received.

“In 2005, my Mum had Hospice at Home care and I can’t speak highly enough about the support she received. Although it’s a long time ago, it feels like only yesterday. The nurses cared for my Mum 24 hours a day and they were just amazing. She used to say ‘they’re all angels’.

“My Mum was initially diagnosed with mouth cancer which then spread to her lungs. She was in hospital but wanted to be at home, so when she was discharged she came to stay with us. She was finding it increasingly hard to breathe so when the Doctor came to see her he said that she could go back to the hospital or he could contact Dougie Mac to see what could be done to help her. We asked him to contact the hospice, which he did, and the first nurse came out that afternoon.

“The Nurse wanted Mum to be admitted to the hospice but unfortunately there weren’t any beds available at the time, so they recommended Hospice at Home care instead, which began immediately. The care that followed for the next two weeks was unbelievable. Dougie Mac Nurses were with Mum all day and all night and made us feel so comfortable and relaxed. They became like friends and helped to make a very difficult situation much easier. The managed her medication so that she wasn’t in pain and our Minister, friends and family were able to come and see her to say goodbye.

“Since then, I’ve been a dedicated supporter of Dougie Mac and I will always support the hospice, as a thank you for all the care and comfort they provided for my dear Mum in her final days. I’ve done lots of fundraising through my church and every Christmas, we have a Memories Tree where people can add memories of their loved ones and make a donation. I also make personal donations to mark special Birthdays and Anniversaries.

“One of the most special ways I like to support Dougie Mac is through its Light up a Life campaign. I make a donation every Christmas, in memory of our loved ones, and when I receive the Christmas card printed with their names, I place them under our Christmas tree at home. It’s very special to me.

“We’ve also left a gift to Dougie Mac in our Wills. My husband and I wrote our Wills through Dougie Mac’s Make a Will Month. I’ll never forget the wonderful care Mum received and I want to ensure that other people can benefit from the same amazing care and support in the future. By leaving a gift in our Wills; we hope the hospice can continue its valuable help and support for families for many years to come.”