Donna reveals she wrote her first grief poem after visiting Strathcarron Hospice. Bestselling local poet and social media sensation Donna Ashworth has joined her lifelong friend Lynn Guthrie in an emotional and inspiring conversation on Strathcarron Hospice’s latest episode ofStrathcarron Stories Podcast.
In their first-ever interview together, Donna and Lynn reflect on love, friendship and loss – and share how the care Lynn’s mum received at Strathcarron profoundly shaped their lives. Lynn’s mum spent her final days in the hospice’s Inpatient Unit, and the compassionate support offered to the entire family, including Lynn’s young son, left a lasting legacy.
For Donna, the visit to Strathcarron moved her to write her first-ever grief poem, “When You Say Goodbye to a Parent,” now one of her most cherished and widely shared works.
That experience inspired Lynn to retrain as a grief coach, helping others find hope and healing through loss.
Speaking on the podcast, Donna says:
“I thought a hospice was just a building – but Strathcarron is so much more. From the community nurses supporting people in their own homes, to the education teams, the support line and this podcast, it’s changing perceptions of what hospice care really means. It’s doing exactly what I’m trying to do – breaking down the taboo around death and grief.”
The conversation, filled with love, laughter, and tears, also features Donna reading two of her most personal poems. Together, Donna and Lynn celebrate the strength of human connection, the comfort of care, and the importance of talking openly about death and grief.
Strathcarron Stories is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at www.strathcarronhospice.net.
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