You know it’s really tough being a carer, especially when you are caring for your husband and he doesn’t have long to live. The doctors said that Jim could go into a special hospital, a hospice I think they called it, but Jim wants to be at home – to die in his own home. Until now I didn’t even know you were allowed to do this, to let someone die at home when they’ve got a terminal illness. It’s a good thing really.
It isn’t easy though and I need the help of the community nurses and my GP. They help me with all the practical things like bathing and dressing but also teach me how to give Jim’s morphine, to manage his pain and use breakthrough doses when the pain gets too much. So far so good and Jim feels comfortable and able to still be a part of our family life. We can even still sleep next to each other at night – we hold hands and enjoy just being able to be together under the roof of our family home. It might not last so we are making the most of the time we have.
Why don’t they advertise this option more? I’m sure more people would do the same if they felt supported and knew they could. Maybe it’s not done because it’s about death.
Story by Cathy Simpson