So often, those who volunteer with us have their own connections that have brought them to the charity – and they will often say, too, that they feel they gain as much from their work with us as they give. Here, Suzanne Wood tells her story.
For over six years, Sam Politt has been a Children’s Care Assistant at ellenor. Friends ask her how she copes with her challenging, sometimes emotional work – especially given that she’s got a nine-year-old daughter herself. She says, “My role is to look after children who, despite illness, are most often cheeky, smiley and bouncy – just like every child is.”
Florence’s journey started in January 2020 when she was diagnosed with Leukaemia (AML) as a family we were thrust into the world of a cancer diagnosis! We quickly learnt about blood counts, side effects and the gruelling chemotherapy treatment that Florence had to endure.
Bringing expertise from London hospitals direct to children in their own homes is an under-recognised service that forms the foundation of care provided by ellenor. Thanks to this partnership approach, many children under ellenor’s care in Kent can make fewer journeys and spend less time attending hospitals in London for their appointments.
There are times when a mother’s instinct really can be a lifesaver. As a mum of three, Carrie Wilson knew her baby daughter Grace was suffering from something way beyond the usual illnesses.
Families of children who have a life limiting or life-threatening condition will know, it’s a worrying and frightening time, but their journey is made a little easier thanks to our Children’s Palliative Care Team.
Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, that dedication is unwavering and the our team has adapted and pulled together as never before. Pivotal to the cohesion of the team is Lisa Ball, Staff Nurse in ellenor’s Inpatient Unit (IPU). Here, she reflects on the impact Covid-19 has had on the patients she cares for, their families and her team.
The Accumulator Challenge, in aid of ellenor, is back! From an initial investment of £50 and a four-month timescale, you will compete against teams from across Kent and Bexley to become the ellenor Accumulator Champion of 2020. We will give your company a crisp £50 note and four months to find ways of increasing it as much as you can.
Linda’s job may be challenging but she has never doubted the value of her role: “I’ve always wanted to be a palliative care nurse and to help guide people through the challenges of end-of-life care. It’s rewarding to know you’ve done as much as you possibly can for patients and their families and if I’ve helped make their situations better in any way, I know that I’ve done my job right.”
Pandemic or no pandemic, ellenor’s patients and their families know they can count on us to deliver the care that’s so essential to every aspect of their well-being - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
“You never know what’s going to come your way – but there are certainly some situations you don’t imagine you’ll have to face as a teen. One minute I was your usual fifteen years old – friends, family, studying and having a great time with friends; then the rug was pulled from under my feet."
We will be benefiting from an exciting new charity partnership between UK charity Together for Short Lives and M&S Food.
Essential to the exceptional standard of holistic care offered by ellenor, the charity that provides support for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families, are its Health Care Assistants. Without them – quite simply - the charity couldn’t function.
For Nicola Norris and her husband Lee, we have been a lifeline in providing them with a whole range of services to help support and stimulate their six-year-old son, Jensen.
For teenager Jack Browne and his family, support from ellenor has meant a return to the normality of home and school that once seemed impossible.
When their beloved daughter, Kerrie, died from breast cancer at the age of 36 in September 2017, Dianne and her husband George didn’t just have to find a path through their own grief – they had to help Kerrie’s young sons cope with theirs, too. Throughout the process, we were there to support the family, both practically and emotionally.
Hello, my name is Geoff and I volunteer with the Financial Support Service within the Wellbeing Team at ellenor, providing support to patients, their carers and family.
One Northfleet family has experienced for themselves the vital support that we offer in all sorts of circumstances – including the current pandemic - and to both children and adults.
The current Coronavirus crisis is unprecedented and has placed huge amounts of stress on society and families. Lockdown has presented challenges related to managing work, home schooling and constraints on income or normal routines have resulted in tensions and arguments.
While nurses and doctors are at the heart of hospice care, there are many other individuals who play an equally important role in providing holistic support. Chaplains are a key part of the palliative care team, offering comfort and spiritual strength to people with life-limiting or terminal illnesses.
