The following client and family member comments express what Hospice has meant to them: “I could not have managed without all the help and love and care we received from the Hospice staff and volunteers during Ron’s illness and after his death. The volunteers made it possible for me to get out to do the things I needed to do and to continue to participate in our children’s activities that meant so much to them. Ron looked forward to seeing Sara and Melanie, his volunteers who took such good care of him while I was out, and to Carl, the volunteer who drove him to the Doctor’s and to the Chemo Clinic so many times. Whenever I phoned your office needing to talk and often cry, you were always there for me and always had the time to listen and understand. You always made me feel better. You all did so much to make Ron’s last few months of life, a good few months and helped the kids and me so much to cope with it all.

I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you, thank you all, so very, very much for being there for me and my family and for others like us”.

Heart House Hospice, who gave such profound help to my wife and myself, came into our lives when my wife was in her final year of a long battle with breast cancer. At the same time, I was recovering from aorta-coronary by-pass surgery. For both of us it was a time of personal chaos and fear.

We had many skilled and dedicated helpers: doctors, nurses, homemakers, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. All were there to do specific professional tasks for my wife. They came, did their tasks with great expertise and they left. No one had much time to listen or to talk.

Then this Volunteer from Heart House Hospice came. She introduced herself and said, “What would you like me to do?” So began a very incredible year’s association. She “did” all sorts of things; cooked casseroles, baked cookies, taught me to mend socks, drove my wife from hospital appointments.
But mostly, she spent quiet time talking with my wife and listening to her. At times of fear or confusion, she was able to bring peace and clarity to my wife. Her presence was calming and kind, and very strong. My wife drew on her presence.
I am a physician and, as such, “know” about illness and dying. I also knew very well how to deny this painful knowledge about my wife. The Volunteer from Heart House Hospice gently, and with great compassion, helped me to come to terms with my wife’s journey towards death.

Our Volunteer from Heart House Hospice gave my wife and me all the qualities that our excellent professional caregivers could not; peace, calm, acceptance and hope for the future. It was, for both of us, a unique experience.