Hospice nurses help fulfil mum’s wish to die in family home. With the support of Treetops Hospice at Home nurses, Wendy Joyce from Codnor, was able to fulfil her wish to die at home after a long battle with breast cancer.
Wendy’s daughter-in-law, Sarah Joyce, is sharing her family’s moving story to promote the Treetops Super Draw and help the hospice raise vital funds to support other patients and families when they need it the most.
“We will never forget the care and compassion of the Treetops nursing team during our darkest times,” explained Sarah, 41, from Swanwick.
“The nurses made a world of difference. We wouldn’t have been able to give Wendy everything she needed at home without them.”
Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was told the cancer was curable, and Wendy underwent a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
“It was a long, painful road but Wendy bravely battled through it,” continued Sarah.
“She never complained and just got on with it, as there was light at the end of the tunnel. She really showed superhuman strength and resilience which was in her nature. She was a very down-to-earth person.”
Wendy, 72, was a much-loved Dinner Lady and later, a Teaching Assistant, at Codnor Primary School. After retiring, she spent many hours cheering for her grandchildren on the sidelines at athletics events.
“You could see in her face the joy she got watching them. She’d be beaming. It didn’t matter if they won or not, she was so proud of them either way.
“Wendy and I got on so well,” said Sarah. “She was like another mum to me and everything you’d want from a mother-in-law. I counted myself really lucky.”
Despite being given the all-clear, less than a year later in December 2021, Wendy was diagnosed with secondary cancer in her spine and other areas.
“This time they said the cancer was not curable but treatable. Our world was shattered.
“After a few months of attempting to control the growth and spread of the cancer, we were told that it was having no effect. There was nothing more they could do.
“In May 2022, the oncologist gave us a prognosis of no more than six to 12 months. In a strange way, we were all relieved. We thought we would hopefully be able to enjoy a good few months of making precious memories together.”
But Wendy’s health rapidly declined. By June, the family was told that Wendy was now coming towards the end of her life. Returning to her family home in Codnor, just a few yards from the house in which she was born, was very important to her.
“I can honestly say that we wouldn’t have got through the next few days without the invaluable care and support that Treetops provided us with; both caring for Wendy and supporting us as a family.
“As things had moved so fast, we weren’t able to access carers for the first couple of days. And Wendy’s medication wasn’t managing her pain properly.”
Sarah was encouraged to call the Treetops Hospice at Home team.
“We’d only been referred to Treetops a few hours before our first call to them. The nurses were there within the hour to give Wendy the pain relief she desperately needed.
“They took the time to listen to us and encouraged us to call at any time with any concerns.
“They also reassured us that we were doing great for Wendy which was such a relief to hear. In that situation, you almost put pressure on yourself to become a medical professional and know exactly what your loved one needs and when they need it. The nurses lifted that pressure from us, which we will always be grateful for.
“I can’t begin to describe the difference they made. We felt able to get some much-needed rest whilst Wendy’s care was in their capable hands. They were there for us, supporting us, preparing us for what to expect. Until you live this experience and know what it’s like, you don’t know how hard it is.”
In the care of the Treetops Hospice at Home team, Wendy died peacefully with husband, Richard and son, Stefan, by her side.
Sarah’s family are very proud to be supporting the Treetops Super Draw to ‘give something back to the charity’.
“As a family, we’re very proud to support Treetops and the Super Draw.
“It’s really important to us to share our story because we know firsthand how much Treetops helped Wendy and us. We hope lots of people enter the Super Draw to raise money for the hospice so they can help other families just like us.”
Proceeds from the annual Treetops Super Draw help provide end-of-life nursing care for patients like Wendy, and their families, living in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Each Super Draw entry is just £1 and gives each entrant the chance to win one of 19 cash prizes including a £2,000 jackpot. The deadline for entries is midnight, Monday 24 March. Winners will be announced on Friday 28 March. Players must be aged 18 years and above. Full T&Cs apply.
Entries for the Super Draw can be purchased through all 19 Treetops charity shops, or online at www.treetops.org.uk/superdraw2025
Treetops Hospice, one of the leading end-of-life care charities in Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, provides nursing care and emotional support for adults with life-limiting conditions, those who’ve been bereaved, and their families. Every year, Treetops provides vital care and support to over 2,000 people across Derbyshire.
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Photo thumbnail:L-R: Richard and Wendy Joyce
About Treetops Hospice
Treetops Hospice, one of the leading end-of-life care charities in Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, provides nursing care and emotional support for adults with life-limiting conditions, those who’ve been bereaved, and their families.
The charity provides support from diagnosis onwards for patients with conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart and respiratory conditions.
Last year, our team of nurses provided over 22,000 hours of nursing care for patients at the very end of life, in their own homes.
Our team of bereavement counsellors provided over 4,600 counselling sessions – more than 1,200 of them to children and young people. Our Wellbeing team members provide valuable information and support to those who need it.
Treetops is doing all it can to continue to support those in most need and welcomes donations to ensure the future of the hospice and its services: www.treetopshospice.org.uk/donate
A donation of £34.50 helps provide a counselling session for a bereaved child. A donation of £108 helps provide nursing care through the night for a patient at the end of life.
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