After a cancer diagnosis, a North Watford mum was able to carry out one of her final wishes - taking her five-year-old son to the zoo.
Liene Pastore explained how, four weeks earlier, she was shocked to find out her cancer had spread much faster than anticipated and was incurable, having reached many parts of her body.
She says she was told that at that point “I had maybe days or weeks to live”.
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“My husband was caring for me at home, but it was not a good set-up,” Liene, 49, added. “My body was very weak but my son wanted me to go out with him and play.
“When my GP suggested I was transferred to the Inpatient Unit at Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, I just knew it was the right thing for us.”
She mentioned the idea of a trip when one of the doctors at the hospice asked if there was anything special that she wanted to do. Once they heard this, the fundraising team worked alongside the Inpatient team to arrange to take Liene, her husband, and their son Noah on a VIP visit to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
“The trip was so well organised. We had the opportunity to feed giraffes, elephants, and lemurs,” Liene said.
“Noah saw all these big animals - he was so overwhelmed and so happy. He was able to feed the giraffes a big willow branch.
"He was almost tussling with the giraffe as it pulled on the huge branch. It was so funny.
“Noah loves elephants. They are his favourite animals. He was so excited to see them. It was nice for me to see his excitement when he saw the newborn elephant and to see how happy he was.
“It was a really lovely day out. I’m so grateful to the hospice for arranging that for us.”
Inpatient unit nurse Ellie Grant, who has been looking after Liene, said: “Something like this zoo trip is what we are all about at Rennie Grove Peace; helping people to live well, enjoy the things they still enjoy and go about life in a way that feels comforting, fun and safe.
“We love being able to help families create meaningful, loving, long-lasting memories that are personal to them.”
Another of the mum’s final wishes is to raise funds to help other people benefit from the same care and support she has received.
Liene said: “The kindness here at Rennie Grove Peace has mentally boosted me. My body is giving me lots of trouble but spiritually and mentally I feel very strong at the moment. I just love life for life. Just being alive.
“Hearing the birdsong, looking out at the garden, seeing flowers. I can enjoy it all. So I guess that’s why I’m still here.”
She added: “Every person I’ve met here shows kindness. People do it with love, from the heart.
"Staff and volunteers also have time to care. They can sit and spend some time talking. That’s different from my experience in hospitals.”
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More than 25 people took part in a 10-mile charity walk earlier this month as part of her effort to raise money for Rennie Grove Peace, bringing in £4,421 of a £5,500 target.
Director of fundraising Tracey Hancock said: “Liene’s wish is to raise funds for Rennie Grove Peace to give something back while she is being cared for in our Inpatient Unit.
“We call on anyone in the community to give what they can and help Liene achieve her wishes to fundraise, so that more patients can be looked after by us.”
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