Donkeys bring joy to Mum at the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice

Making every moment count for patients, living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end of life care, is the motivation for staff and volunteers at the Charity.

Our dedicated teams continuously go above and beyond to ensure that each patient’s experience is filled with our values of compassion, community, caring and excellence.

So, we were overjoyed when a devoted son arranged for a pair of donkeys to visit his mum at the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice. A particularly heartwarming gesture that brought smiles and laughter to our patients, visitors, volunteers and colleagues.

The patient’s son, who works locally at a school in Cambridge, knew how much his mum would enjoy seeing the animals. He reached out to the team at Mini Donks, a group that regularly visits his school, and they kindly agreed to bring the donkeys to the Hospice at Shelford Bottom. The visit was a touching experience for the patient, who was joined by several family members, creating a memorable moment. The family expressed their gratitude for how accommodating staff were at the Charity, including handling all the necessary paperwork, without hesitation, to ensure that the visit went smoothly.

Inpatient Ward Manager, Jenny Oakes commented:

“Arranging special moments like the donkey visit is a true joy for our team. When we see the happiness and          connection it brings to our patients and their families, we know we’ve succeeded in making every moment count. We think that every patient and family is unique, with their own needs and desires and it’s our privilege to see and honour them as individuals. These moments remind us why we do what we do.”

This special visit is just one example of how staff go the extra mile to bring comfort and happiness to those in our care. For example, when one of our colleagues discovered that a patient had a deep love for a particular purple flower, they went home, gathered vases full of these flowers from their garden, and brought them to the patient’s room. The patient was touched when their room had transformed into a fragrant and colourful haven that made them feel at home.

Another touching instance was when our Music Therapist, Helen Loth, worked closely with a music-loving patient who had written lyrics for a song but, due to her illness, could no longer play an instrument. Helen helped the patient bring her song to life by composing a melody and making time for them to sing the song together, with Helen accompanying on the guitar. It was an emotional moment that allowed the patient to experience the power of her music one last time.

Our staff’s dedication doesn’t stop there. Whether it’s something as simple as ordering a patient’s favourite dish from a local fish and chip shop or arranging for a tattoo artist to capture meaningful words or images on a patient’s skin, they will always look for ways to make their patients wishes a reality.

At our Hospice, we believe that care extends beyond medical treatment. It’s also about creating special moments, offering comfort, and making every patient feel valued and cherished. The donkey visit, lovingly arranged by a son for his mother, was a wonderful example of this philosophy in action. We are honoured to continue creating meaningful moments for those in our care.

To find out more about the Inpatient Unit please visit arhc.org.uk/inpatient-unit/