Helena Duggan from Claremorris in Co. Mayo speaks about the incredible care her family received from the Irish Cancer Society Night Nursing service, when her mum, Olive died in September 2021.
 

Helena’s mum was first diagnosed with breast cancer aged 57. Unfortunately 15 years later, Olive’s cancer returned, she underwent treatment and was doing well. However, in April 2021, they learned that her cancer had metastasised and spread to other parts of her body. 

Remembering her Mum, Olive. Helena says "My mother had been hospitalized in early July 2021 and Hospice Care was being considered for her, at the same time my father was undergoing knee surgery and we were conscious that there were visiting restrictions due to Covid - we felt that the hospice wasn’t a solution for us. She did come home from hospital after that and up to 5 weeks before she died she was out digging in her garden - my mum was a very fit and active woman."

 "I rang the Irish Cancer Society just to chat about the options available for patients and they mentioned the Night Nurse service.  We wanted to keep her home if possible, where we could come and go and spend quality time with her. Throughout these last few weeks with my mum the Night Nurse service became one of the most important lifelines to us...”
 

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"We will never be able to thank them enough for all they did for us during that time.”

Helena says that not only did the Night Nurses provide comfort and support to her Mum, but they looked after her entire family “The most important part about having the incredible support of the Night Nurses is that they care for the whole family. Yes, they were there to care for Mum, but in the emotional sense they cared for all of us. 

"They came in and took control over a frantic situation, that sense of chaos was removed- they were calming and gave us the solace we needed. Another important thing was that we had sleep when dealing with her illness, you can deal with the emotional part but you need the down time. It was so important to have that rest, I believe that having a good night sleep you can face anything the next day and that is what kept us going. The information and advice they gave us too was incredible.”  

Sadly, six days before Olive died, Helena’s Mother in Law passed away. She says knowing that her Mum was at home and being looked after by the amazing Night Nurses made all the difference at such a difficult time. 

“They explained what the next steps would be. They were very open and upfront about it all, which really helped us. We were under no illusions, they treated us on equal terms and that was so important. The Night Nurses are just the most amazing people and they have just been phenomenal, it’s an incredible service. We will never be able to thank them enough for all they did for us during that time.”

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