How the hospice helped my Nan

After June Bouassid was cared for by Saint Francis Hospice, her grand-daughter Billie, 11, organised a swimathon and raised £845 to help more people like her nan. Here Billie shares her story.

In 2022, Nan was diagnosed with Pancreas Cancer which changed our lives forever. It was a Wednesday and I had just come back from school when my Nan called my mum and told her she has terrible belly pains.

Later through the day, my mum got so worried that she had to call an ambulance for her and I was left with my older sister, Ria.

The ambulance came and took her to hospital where she was there for multiple nights. When she finally came home- I couldn’t wait to see her; however, no one would tell me what was wrong with her.

On Mother’s Day, I found out the heart-breaking news that Nan was going to go to rest.

Going to stay at the Hospice

The more time went by, the more she was deteriorating; she went to Saint Francis Hospice to try it out and see if she liked it. She did. She got so ill that her time was ready to stay in the hospice forever.

My aunt and Mum stayed there for 9 days and nights to spend the rest of Nan’s life together. While my Nan was in the hospice, I stayed at my mum’s friend Gemma’s house. She was a 7-minute drive away from the hospice so I could see my Mum and Nan as much as possible.

The staff were very kind and even let me stay there for a night with my mum when my aunt went home for a night.

The day finally came where she went to sleep peacefully, it was torture. My mum told me and I felt like I was broken, I thought ‘How can I do this without her?’ and I’m still wondering today.

Living without Nan

The thought of not being able to hug her, see her, hear her just hurts. If I could see her one more time, listen to her one more time or even hug her one more time I would.

Without Nan, I wouldn’t know what Saint Francis Hospice is and would never have done a fundraiser to support it.

Billie and her Mum Sandra presenting the Hospice with a cheque from the money they raised doing their swim-a-thon.

I struggle without Nan being here but there’s one way to put it- God tapped her on the shoulder and said, ‘It’s time to go.’ Nan loved the hospice and so do I. It helps your loved ones with a condition to go to rest peacefully or help them get better. I would definitely recommend the hospice to anyone who needs it.