WEB READY QCH 16pp A4 Winter Newsletter 2024 v9 WEB - Flipbook - Page 3
Iain’s Story
“ Queenscourt gave me hope”
Iain’s story highlights why local hospice support matters.
When Iain Kerr retired after a long career in mental
health services, he was looking forward to more
time with his family, his three grandchildren and
getting out on his bike. Helping others had always
been a big part of his life, through volunteering
at St Marie’s Church and mentoring
people through di昀케cult times.
Then, within just a few weeks,
everything changed.
What began as pain in his hip
quickly became unbearable. Iain
could no longer sit comfortably,
eat or sleep, and even cycling
one of the things he loved
most became impossible. After
scans, he was told he had cancer
in his spine, liver and hip.
with dementia and his family. Afterwards they walked
in the gardens and took photographs together. A
member of the team later had the pictures framed for
Iain to keep beside his bed.
The gardens themselves have become a place
of peace. Iain describes watching the birds
and 昀椀sh, listening to the waterfall and
simply being present. One afternoon,
a Red Admiral butter昀氀y landed gently
on his shoulder while he sat outside
with his sister.
“If you asked God to design a
garden, this would be it.”
For Iain, Queenscourt has changed
what hospice care means. It has given
him comfort, time with the people he
loves and space to appreciate what he
now describes as the precious “seconds,
minutes, hours and days”.
It was not the 昀椀rst time Iain had faced
devastating news. Seventeen years earlier,
he had been told his liver was “shot” and that he
did not have long left. Instead, he went on to have 17
more years with his family, time he still describes with
immense gratitude.
“This isn’t a place of sadness. It’s a place of kindness,
compassion, dignity and hope. It’s somewhere that
helps people live.”
That experience shaped how he faced his diagnosis.
“I couldn’t change my diagnosis, so I accepted it.
Instead, I focused on what I could do and the people
around me.”
His message to the community is simple: “If you’re
ever able to support Queenscourt Hospice, please do.
Help make sure it’s here for the next family who
needs it.”
But the pain became overwhelming. “I reached a point
where I honestly didn’t think I could face another day.”
Then Iain came to Queenscourt Hospice.
“People often think a hospice is somewhere you go
when there’s no hope left. My experience couldn’t be
more di昀昀erent. Queenscourt gave me hope.”
“Queenscourt gave me hope.
Not false hope, but hope that
life could still be lived.”
Iain Kerr, patient
For the 昀椀rst time in weeks, Iain’s pain was brought
under control. But he says it was the people who
made the greatest di昀昀erence – the doctors, ward sta昀昀,
physios, kitchen team and domestic sta昀昀.
“You can’t teach people to care like this. You can’t fake
it. The quality of care is simply… wow.”
Queenscourt also helped Iain continue to share the
moments that mattered most. When he was unable
to attend his niece’s nursing graduation, the team
brought an iPad into his room and watched the
ceremony with him so he could still be part of one of
her proudest moments.
They also arranged a special afternoon tea so Iain
could spend precious time with his mum, who lives
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