Hospice Care Week has been celebrated in verse by one woman from Chester who has strong links to Hospice of the Good Shepherd .
Samantha McGimpsey says she was moved to capture in words what the hospice means to her.
Part of her poem reads:
'Always welcome for a cuppa,
It’s normal to share with one another,
It’s not like you imagine including complimentary therapy,
Happy smiley TLC like being part of a special family.'
Samantha was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas in December 2014 and underwent intensive chemotherapy.
She started visiting the Hospice of the Good Shepherd for reflexology sessions which she found very relaxing.
She is now back at work part time and is undergoing a different type of chemotherapy.
She finds acupuncture really helps her and undergoes sessions every six weeks at the hospice.
Her husband Jason has also been trained by hospice staff in how to carry out acupuncture at home.
“Reflexology really relaxed me and while I was there for one session a nurse told me about acupuncture. That too relaxes me and really helps me in my everyday life.
“The hospice is a very positive place and somewhere I know I can call in and have a cup of tea.
“I used to like poems as a child. My Nan also visited the hospice for care and when she died roughly eight years ago I wrote a poem for her funeral.
“When I saw on Facebook that Hospice of the Good Shepherd was asking the question what thoughts summed up the hospice, the words for the poem instantly came to mind. It offers much more than care at the end of someone’s life.”
Hundreds of people have played their part in Hospice Care Week by wearing yellow or blue for the day at work for a small donation.
