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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'I'm so glad he died at home' | 'I'm so glad he died at home' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Campaigners have long been calling for families to be given more support to help their loved ones die at home. | Campaigners have long been calling for families to be given more support to help their loved ones die at home. |
| Now the government in England is setting out how it plans to achieve this. | Now the government in England is setting out how it plans to achieve this. |
| But why is it so important to spend your final days in familiar surroundings? | But why is it so important to spend your final days in familiar surroundings? |
| Mr Gleeson wanted to die at home with his family around him | Mr Gleeson wanted to die at home with his family around him |
| Ever since Paul Gleeson was diagnosed with cancer his wish was that he could die at home. | Ever since Paul Gleeson was diagnosed with cancer his wish was that he could die at home. |
| But in the final weeks of his life, his wife, Maria, thought it was not going to be possible. | But in the final weeks of his life, his wife, Maria, thought it was not going to be possible. |
| The 50-year-old, from Henley-on-Thames, says: "I really didn't think I was going to cope. It was all getting too much. He need round the clock help. | The 50-year-old, from Henley-on-Thames, says: "I really didn't think I was going to cope. It was all getting too much. He need round the clock help. |
| "He was bed-ridden and physically I was exhausted." | "He was bed-ridden and physically I was exhausted." |
| Mrs Gleeson said her husband's consultant simply assumed he would die in a hospice. | Mrs Gleeson said her husband's consultant simply assumed he would die in a hospice. |
| But then a family friend told her about nurses from Marie Curie Cancer Care who could provide help to people in her situation. | But then a family friend told her about nurses from Marie Curie Cancer Care who could provide help to people in her situation. |
| After contacting the charity, she was given a nurse during the night to help her care for her 51-year-old husband in what turned out to be his final week in March following a year-long battle with colon and stomach cancer. | After contacting the charity, she was given a nurse during the night to help her care for her 51-year-old husband in what turned out to be his final week in March following a year-long battle with colon and stomach cancer. |
| This should be a right, it is about dignity Maria Gleeson | This should be a right, it is about dignity Maria Gleeson |
| "She was wonderful. She just tended to his needs, making him a cup of tea, providing his personal care. | "She was wonderful. She just tended to his needs, making him a cup of tea, providing his personal care. |
| "It was at a point when I was beginning to struggle. Without that help I am not sure he would have been able to stay at home. | "It was at a point when I was beginning to struggle. Without that help I am not sure he would have been able to stay at home. |
| "But what upsets me is that you have to ask for these services. This should be a right, it is about dignity." | "But what upsets me is that you have to ask for these services. This should be a right, it is about dignity." |
| Mrs Gleeson said being at home was important for the whole family - she has three daughters aged between 10 and 16. | Mrs Gleeson said being at home was important for the whole family - she has three daughters aged between 10 and 16. |
| With Paul being at home he was able to help them with their music practice - and concerts in which they were taking part - right up to the end. | With Paul being at home he was able to help them with their music practice - and concerts in which they were taking part - right up to the end. |
| "He heard the music, instructed their practice. | |
| "Home was where he felt comfortable. And it meant his children could see him for two minutes or two hours. Whatever they wanted. | |
| "He and they would not have had that if he had been in hospital or hospice. We were with him right until the end and the children will always know that. | "He and they would not have had that if he had been in hospital or hospice. We were with him right until the end and the children will always know that. |
| "I hope in future years when my children look back they will remember they had the last hug, last gasp with their dad. | "I hope in future years when my children look back they will remember they had the last hug, last gasp with their dad. |
| "They will have fond memories they helped care for him. | "They will have fond memories they helped care for him. |
| "There is no doubt in my mind that it was the right thing to do - for him and for the family." | "There is no doubt in my mind that it was the right thing to do - for him and for the family." |