Joanna's Fundraising Page

I have been organising tickets for  many of Ollie’s friends who are joining us . We have t shirts ready to be worn and snacks to keep us going throughout our walk . 

We are walking in memory of our son Ollie who stayed at St.Christopher’s hospice Sydenham last August/September for 6 weeks . He had gone into the care of the hospice when the brain tumour he had be suffering from for nearly two years had finally outrun us and when it meant that he could no longer tolerate any more treatment .  The hospital had done all they could and staying in hospital with all the noise and bright lights  was becoming too much for him . He needed palliative care and we didn’t know what that meant so we were reluctant to move him .  It’s a very long story and one day I’m sure I will put pen to paper or at least my fingers to a keyboard and will document it all , but needless to say we made the right choice to move him . 

From the moment Ollie entered the hospice it was clear that we had done the right thing .

It was calm and quiet and felt like a  warm and caring place . The staff and nurses and doctors were all so lovely and welcoming . They explained everything and how it would be in there . No invasive treatments or observations , no noisy machines no bright lights . 

Instead we had a private room with en suite and a view over the tennis club opposite with trees . The gardens of the hospice became a beautiful calm place to be with Ollie . The hospice actually made him better for a while . He went in virtually unconscious and within a matter of days and with help from physios he was up and standing with an aid and was able to go outside in a chair to enjoy time in the garden and have friends in. His friends visited everyday . They would eat meals with him and watch tv or just chat and listen to his playlist they all made . 

It was a very lovely time to share even though it was heartbreaking at the same time . 

With the help

Of the hospice we managed to get Ollie home but after a day he sadly had a relapse and we had to call the hospice .  They sent an emergency nurse to us and she was here in minutes . She was able to stabilise Ollie from the seizures he was having and she arranged for an ambulance to come and transfer him back to Sydenham hospice . He even got back

To the same ward and all the nurses were so happy to see him . We all got hugs and kisses . 

Sadly in the next few days ollie declined and he slowly became weaker and sleepier . 

He passed away peacefully and calmly with me and his dad at his side , cuddling and kissing him and telling him how much we loved him . His two brothers were in the hospice too . We comforted eachother and the nurses and doctors cared for us too . They were also very emotional as they had grown to love Ollie too . 

They all told us how they had enjoyed their time with him , he would tell jokes and just be so funny with them , he always made everyone laugh and was never down or upset , when he had every right to be . 

The hospice was our saviour in such a dire time of need . 

They looked after Ollie and us ! We are so grateful that we were lucky enough to have that care . He never suffered pain when he was there . He ate well (the food there is amazing and all freshly cooked to order ) . He had no disruption or disturbance and had dignity. 

We wanted to thank the hospice as it also looked after my husbands dad back in the 80’s as he was cared for by Dame Cecille  Saunders herself . 

We are fund raising to help others that need this type of care as funding is needed to keep this facility going . 

We hope to carry on fundraising for many years to come , in Ollies honour .