"Palliative Care Team at POW Hospital"

My husband Barry recently passed away due to advanced Parkinson’s disease.

For the past year I’ve been determined to care for him at home if at all possible.

This difficult journey would have been impossible without the amazing, unwavering support of the Palliative Care team at POW.

Every member of the team went above and beyond the call of duty, to help me and Barry manage the painful progression of the disease.

The doctors Shawna and Christina were always there to adjust the medications, to listen patiently to the new problems, to advise me and give me the courage to go on.

And when Barry died in the middle of the night and I called Christina half hysterical because I was in shock and didn’t know what to do, she calmed me and listened to my confusion and gently advised me what to do. She couldn’t have kinder at that difficult moment.

The nurses, Philomena, Maria and Penny spent hours showing me how to administer injections, interacting with Barry and showing him compassion and care, listening to all my worries and cheering me on.

Chloe, the OT, always came up with creative and ingenious solutions to problems, almost reconstructing the wheelchair so it was fit for purpose, bringing fidget toys and blankets to keep Barry as engaged and content as possible and constantly giving me the strength to go on. Every time she entered our home she brought sunshine, good humour, enthusiasm and a positive approach that uplifted myself and Barry.

The social worker, Ariane, was amazing in counselling me when I was down, listening with all her heart to my concerns and finding solutions. She even gave her time and effort to help me fill in daunting forms for Centrelink etc and then thought of bringing books and hand printing packs to help my grandchildren understand and stay connected to their granddad, Barry.

Brendan, our physiotherapist, was wonderful at finding ways of keeping Barry in the standing shifter as long as possible and was prepared to come at 7.30am when Barry awoke to show me better ways of helping him onto the full hoist and dressed.

Not only did Sarah, the speech pathologist, check Barry’s swallowing. She went out of her way to find a round toothbrush which was easier to use for Barry’s teeth and always stayed longer to talk to both of us and give us emotional as well as physical support.

I can’t thank Pall. Care enough. I couldn’t have survived this difficult year without them.

I so wish their work was better acknowledged.

I think they deserve their own phone line and offices because their work is so essential and live saving for carers and their loved ones. Most people will need to face this painful end of life period and Pall Care at POW make an enormous and invaluable difference..

With huge appreciation to the team.