Our Story, Di and Bob Mason

Di Mason, tells in her own words, how Campden Home Nursing helped her and her late husband, Bob, through the last days of his terminal illness…

Our first introduction to Campden Home Nursing was when our local doctors (Meon Medical Centre) recommended them to us in April 2020. Initially my husband (Bob) was a bit unsure but when Emily came out to do the assessment we were both immediately put at ease. She explained very clearly what Campden Home Nursing could do to support the whole family.

Emily rang every week and more frequently when needed. Bob and her would have a good chat and a giggle. During this whole time the world was in a panic as COVID19 spread around the world and we were in lockdown. This never stopped Campden Home Nursing.

In June, it was clear that we needed more support as due to lockdown my children couldn’t come in and, as well as Bob needing support with pain management, I also needed to sleep. Nurses came in and spent the night here looking after Bob and administering pain relief when needed. This gave me time to be able to sleep for a short time knowing full well that Bob was in good and kind professional hands and was safe.

Help day and night

Bob died on Father’s Day 21st June 2020 with all his family around him. Without the support of Campden Home Nursing he would have been in hospital and completely alone.

The support did not stop there. Emily rang me every day and even came out when the Funeral Director came to the house. Although in lockdown all meetings were in the garden and much more difficult than in normal times.

After the funeral Emily continued to ring and offered me and the family bereavement counselling which I did take up. I went to Campden Home Nursing in their previous location and had a course of 6 meetings with Cathy. At first, I wasn’t sure how this would benefit me, but it really did. It gave me a focus, something to write on the calendar and lots to reflect on after the meetings.

When you are caring for someone who is terminally ill, your weeks, days, hours are all focused on appointments, hospital, chemotherapy, radiotherapy plus a lot more. When your loved one dies, apart from the intense feeling of loss and heartbreak, you are faced with an empty calendar.

Eventually, when Campden Home Nursing moved to Jecca’s House I offered to help in the garden. Once we were able to do this I came over and helped as much as I could with Roberta leading the way and I found it was a place where I could talk or not. I could be with people or not. The whole feeling was being in a place of Sanctuary where I could be myself. This then introduced me into meeting other volunteers, patients, carers the bereaved and nurses and all the staff of Jecca’s House. A very loving, kind community, there for whatever the need is. Once groups could start again I attended the bereavement group with Val which again was very beneficial.

As part of my wanting to help support the charity, I wanted to help fundraise, so one of the things I introduced was called Bob’s lucky bowl, which is where you have an envelope and a sum of money of your choice is put into the envelope along with your name and telephone number on the outside of the envelope. At the end of a month one envelope is drawn out of the bowl and the lucky winner gets half of what is in the bowl and the other half goes to the charity. I was also able to help with the Big Christmas Raffle 2021 which raised £2,500. We are now in 2022 and I’m hoping to continue to help support and raise funds as much as I can.

I am forever grateful and the kindness shown to Bob, myself and my family by all, it is priceless. Thank you.

Di with her family at the opening of Jecca's House in October 2021

Di with her family at the opening of Jecca’s House in October 2021