When Doreen’s husband, Peter, came under Rowcroft’s care in 2024, she was surprised to learn that the hospice offered complementary therapy. Through gentle massage and reflexology, the therapists not only eased Peter’s pain but also offered Doreen a precious space to recharge and relax. For Doreen, these small acts of care and kindness made a big difference – lifting their spirits and bringing moments of calm and comfort during a difficult time.
Peter’s journey
“Peter was very creative. He studied art and design at Goldsmiths College, and learnt carpentry, metalwork, silversmithing, pottery, and ceramics. He was a teacher, and also ran his own building company where we met. We were married for 46 wonderful years.
“Peter was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2022. He underwent an operation, which gave him almost two years cancer free. He began to feel a pain in his left hip early last year, and we discovered that the cancer had spread. He had three months of chemotherapy, and when he decided not to have any more treatment in October 2024, we passed into the care of Rowcroft.”
Finding comfort through complementary therapy
“The complementary therapy team started coming to the house to give massages, which were so helpful because Peter had a lot of aches and pains. They even offered massages for me, and I think they became a kind of emotional support for me. The team were just amazing – Liz came most often, and she was like a ray of sunshine whenever she visited. They visited almost every week, and Peter was always more relaxed afterwards, with less pain and discomfort. As a result, his mood was much more optimistic.
“I never expected them to offer therapy for me. I mostly had reflexology, which really helped to calm my mind – it was a bit of a maelstrom at times. I also took part in a series of wellbeing group sessions led by the complementary therapy team, which I found beneficial, particularly the guided meditations.
“When one of the team arrived for a chat, a massage, or whatever we needed, it gave us the strength to carry on again with renewed energy. They were so positive, and that made such a difference.”
Care and compassion at home
“Peter decided he wanted to spend the end of his life at home. The nurses were just fantastic – they treated him with respect and consideration, but also with humour. He was a very clever man, and they treated him with intelligence.
“The weaker Peter became, the more care and support Rowcroft gave us. I think the best way to describe Rowcroft’s care is as a support net beneath you – always there, holding you up. Rowcroft enabled Peter to have the death he wanted, at home with his family, in a place where he was comfortable.”
Supporting Rowcroft
“Rowcroft were – and are – fantastic. Peter always said he was lucky to have the care he did. We’d assumed hospice care was only for the very end of life, but it’s not necessarily; it can be much longer than that. In truth, I couldn’t have managed Peter at home without Rowcroft. I couldn’t have enabled the gentle decline he experienced.
“Our last Christmas together, my Peter said, I don’t want any presents – I just want donations to go to Rowcroft. When we had his celebration of life, we took a collection for Rowcroft and we made about £1,000. Anything anyone can do to support the hospice is so worthwhile.”
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https://rowcrofthospice.org.uk/blog/moments-of-calm/
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