Letter of gratitude – Jan’s story

After visiting a specialist at Salisbury Hospital for pain in her side, scans revealed that Jan had cancer of the colon.

Following Jan's diagnosis she was referred to Dorothy House Hospice Care. This involved a short stay in the Hospice at Winsley. Whilst Jan was apprehensive to be referred to the Hospice, those closest to her offered reassurance that there was more to hospice care than she originally thought. 'You don't go there to die, you go there to live'.

To help Jan express her gratitude for the overwhelming support she received from Dorothy House Hospice Care during this time, one of Jan’s friends helped her to write a letter which shares a view words about her time at Winsley.

Jan's letter:

‘Dear Sir,

This may be a strange thing to write, but I’ve recently spent eleven wonderful days in Dorothy House Hospice at Winsley.

Wonderful, because of the exceptional care and attention given to me from every single person who came into my room. The doctors and nurses went beyond their call of duty to ensure my comfort at all times. My assessment was efficient, appropriate and plausible and all the staff were overwhelming in their care and attention to detail.

I’ve never been particularly religious, but I have to say that while I was there, I had an experience that I can only call spiritual. I heard a soft, gentle voice with a clear, meaningful message and I moved out of a dark, enclosed space into an enlightened world. I felt an enormous weight lift from my whole body. I was changed!

Perhaps the staff at the hospice are angels after all. We may not be clapping our carers now on Thursdays, but I shall be eternally grateful to the doctors and nurses of Dorothy House Hospice.

Yours faithfully,
Jan Davis'