“She had only been ill for a short time, and one of the things she really enjoyed was to have us sing to her.
“Singing in a choir was how we met, and what we did together. At first a small group of us went to her house, and she was able to join in. Later, in a hospice, she would join in a little when she felt able to, often repeating the line ‘I am not afraid’ with us.”
When my Mum told me this story about a good friend of hers I was really touched. I suddenly understood so much more about their relationship, and I think my Mum liked that too.
Sometimes when we share stories like this, that are so personal, we can connect with each other much more deeply. And hearing this story, I understood that simple, beautiful moments can come even in the darkest times.
Today, Better Endings (run by Innovation Unit) is launching #StoriesHelp to help more people share experiences like this. It’s a campaign asking people who have been with someone at the end of their lives to share stories about those experiences, and the simple acts that make a real difference. Through stories, we can help others who may be going through the same situation on their own.
At the end of the campaign, Better Endings will share a collection of ideas and tips for simple things we can all do to support our friends, families and colleagues.
Do you have a story to share? Or maybe someone you have cared for or supported wants to tell their story? Here’s how to get involved.
You could think about:
- A moment when you supported a person at the end of their life – how did it make you feel?
- How did you talk about dying?
- What would have been better than a sympathy card?
- What did you learn that you’d like to share with people in the same position?
From the 21 January to 3 February, please share your story across Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #StoriesHelp, or send an email to lou.thomas@innovationunit.org to remain anonymous.
To find out more about the project, visit www.betterendings.be
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