Heartfelt plea from terminally ill woman to support hospice care

Since the Covid-19 outbreak began, St Barnabas Hospice has seen a huge drop in fundraising income that pays for most of their care, with the majority of vital fundraising events cancelled until at least summer next year.

Now, terminally ill patient Lisa Hartley has stepped forward to ask the people of Lincolnshire to carry on funding local hospice care so more people like her can be supported.

She said: “Earlier this year I was told that my heart is failing and that it’s now a matter of time; they don’t know how long I’ve got.

“It was my heart nurse who suggested we get in touch with St Barnabas.

“I thought it was a mad idea - I wasn’t dying tomorrow, how could they help me? But these special people have become my carers, my friends, my lifeline.

“The St Barnabas team has been utterly dedicated to me - and I can say that it is their care that has kept me going.

“Zoe, ‘my’ physiotherapist, has given me back mobility I never thought I’d have again.

“When Zoe came out to see me I took her down to the stables to meet my horses.

“I’ve always kept horses and over the last few months they’ve become so precious to me, I can go and see them and forget about things for a while.

“Zoe asked, ‘What do you want to achieve?’ I told her I hadn’t been able to ride; it had been 18 months since I’d been able to get on my old horse, Monty.

“Over the next three weeks, following Zoe’s exercise plan and with a little extra help, I finally got back in the saddle with Monty.”

Michelle Webb, director of patient care, said there is still a ‘massive hole’ in the charity’s income.

She continued: “We are still very worried.

“Most of our fundraising activity has now been cancelled until early 2021 and so we won’t have the income we usually rely on to fund our care.

“Without further support from our community, now, we simply will not be able to give the care people need, when they need it most.

“Our team of nurses and volunteers are still there for every family, in every part of Lincolnshire.

“They’re exhausted, and they need a holiday as much as we all do, but they are totally committed to caring for local people who need them.

“We just need to find the money to keep them going for the rest of this year.

“Lisa is just one of more than 3,000 Lincolnshire patients the hospice has been supporting since lockdown.

“Her incredible story has inspired everyone at the hospice and we want to be able to care for more people like her long into the future.”

A donation of £134.21 can pay for a whole hour of specialist nursing care for a patient spending their final few days in St Barnabas Hospice care, and a donation of £511.05 can help towards a remote-working nurse who cares for patients like Lisa in their own home.

Lisa added: “I know they need funds now to keep them caring for lots of people like me over the next few months.

“I can tell you from first-hand experience; that care is priceless. I hope you can help.”

To find out more and get involved, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/crisiscare

St Barnabas Hospice is a local independent charity and every year they support more than 10,500 people across Lincolnshire.

They deliver free, high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care and support to people living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, their family and carers through a range of services.

St Barnabas needs to raise over £6m a year to provide its support and care.

More than 900 volunteers play a crucial role in the charity’s success.