Flying the flag for vital hospice

21 February 2007

Thetford grandmother Jane Brunt knew she was dying. She fought an 18-month battle against cancer with courage and determination. With help from her family and the St Nicholas' Hospice in Bury St Edmunds, she lived life to the full right to the end.

Today, husband Mike is a member of Thetford Friends of St Nicholas' Hospice. He holds a light for other sufferers, campaigning to help raise the £9,000 daily funds to run the hospice and ease suffering.

“Our world was turned upside down when Jane was diagnosed with cancer,” said the retired pharmacist. “It taught me that what we can take for granted can be finite and was,” he told the Times from his Mackenzie Road home.

“Most people do not want to know about hospices until they need one. Jane was cared for initially as an out-patient and later in-patient until her death. I hope to give people a greater awareness of what is available for them when it comes to this dreadful disease - the hospice changed what could have been a dramatic end to a smooth process,” he said.

At Addenbrookes Hospital Jane was given oral treatment to inhibit the growing tumour. “It allowed us to continue more or less normally for another year,” said Mike. The couple went to Euro-Disney to meet the grandchildren, saw relatives in the Loire and spent a month in Nerja followed by a succession of other holidays.

At the end of June 2000, Jane's GP referred her to St Nicholas' Hospice where she met Pippa Wilding, the resident Macmillan Nurse who started to monitor Jane's medication and suggested she become a day patient.

“Jane was at first sceptical but we all encouraged her and she came to look forward to each Wednesday at the day hospice and found it so helpful. Jane was always immaculately presented and she loved being pampered and would come home relaxed after a massage with her hair done and nails manicured and varnished. She felt really good there. It proved to be one of the best moves she made because it also allowed her to get to know the staff who would later care so well for her as an in-patient,” said Mike.

It was a chance to talk about her feelings. She also learned to paint by exploring different mediums and she did crafts and needlework. Her diary regarding her first hospice visit reads: “warmth pervaded the interview which oozed a confident 'I care' ambience'... within this apparent haven of peace”.

The couple, who had been sweethearts since meeting at church, knew the oral treatment would not work indefinitely and in October 2000 the tumour became more aggressive. Mike watched her life gradually ebb away. “There were three occasions when we thought we would lose her,” he said.

In November 2000, Jane haemorrhaged internally and was rushed to the hospice. The bleeding stopped and the pain was controlled. She stayed in the patient unit for 10 days until she stabilised and was allowed home to see her three grandchildren perform in their school Christmas play.

On December 18, 2000, Jane had a bigger haemorrhage at home and he was advised to immediately take her to the hospice. “I just remember picking up the phone and saying to Pippa at the hospice 'Help, it is bigger than me this time',” said Mike.

“Jane survived this episode too but she was getting weak and I knew it was the beginning of the end. Jane received support from the hospice chaplain, John Stroud, to ensure she was at peace with herself.

“The hospice staff responded so well to Jane's continually changing situation and provided all the necessary medication at the right time to ensure she was always comfortable,” said Mike.

On January 17, 2001, Jane developed a cough and her condition worsened and she became temporarily confused and was sedated.

She still enjoyed life, sleeping between brief periods of waking

when she was happy and interested in her visitors. She passed away on January 27, 2001, with her family around her.

“The hospice gave Jane and the family the comprehensive, seamless and holistic care we needed. This made all the difference to us and allowed her to enjoy a good quality of life to the end and die peacefully with dignity and without pain. You can't ask for more than that. And the hospice's ongoing support for the bereaved relatives was just as thorough,” said Mike.

The hospice has shops in Brandon and Thetford. For Friends of St Nicholas Hospice call 01842 753872.