Cath Cringle - Patient Relative

"The wonderful staff were so loving, compassionate and capable. Neil had a great sense of humour, which he never lost, and he enjoyed sharing a laugh with the nurses and HCAs as they took care of him.”

“My husband Neil was a member of the IOM Constabulary, starting as a cadet in 1970 and ending his career as Inspector in 2003, shortly afterwards beginning a second career as Borough Warden Manager for Douglas Council.

He was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of Blood Cancer, in 2017 and after initial treatment had 7 years of good health, during which time he became a volunteer driver for Hospice and Live At Home; roles he greatly enjoyed, having a love of driving and a desire to be useful.

Sadly, he became unwell shortly after Christmas 2023 and was told his condition was terminal in February. Whilst all the family was devastated by this news, Neil remained calm and accepting and stated that his wish was to end his days in Hospice, where he knew he would receive the very best of care, and this certainly proved to be the case.

I had never been into Hospice before and, when the time came for him to be admitted, I was very apprehensive about what I would find. Walking into the bright, modern building and feeling the warm, friendly atmosphere, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. After weeks of caring for Neil at home and all that entailed, I was now able to just be with him as his wife and not his carer.

The move into Hospice undoubtedly gave Neil peace of mind, knowing that his pain would be controlled, and he would receive the care he needed. The wonderful staff were so loving, compassionate and capable. Nothing was too much trouble and their care extended to the family as well as their patient. Neil had a great sense of humour, which he never lost, and he enjoyed sharing a laugh with the nurses and HCAs as they took care of him.  A special mention must go to the catering team who provided a wide range of delicious meals, which he really enjoyed, as did the family who were able to have lunch in Elaine’s Café, which is a warm and welcoming space run by Hospice volunteers.

During the time he was there, myself and our two children were able to spend precious time with him as a family, spending many hours talking, laughing and remembering happy times. He had a steady stream of visitors, including his siblings, who came across from the UK, and, although it was emotional, it was so important that they were all able to say goodbye. We were even able to hold our son’s birthday party in his room, where he was surrounded by all his family, including his four much loved granddaughters. There were balloons, cake, a little bit of fizz and a lot of laughter. A memory to treasure.

Neil passed away peacefully with the children and I by his side. We were able to stay with him as long as we wanted and when the time came to go home, we knew that the staff who had cared for him when he was alive would perform their final duties with the same gentleness and compassion.

I have since become a Hospice volunteer, as Neil was, as a way of supporting this wonderful and vital organisation and saying thank you for all they did for him and for our family.”