Martin’s Living Well Experience

Martin Law, from Littleport and his wife Christine, have two children, seven grandchildren and one Great- Granddaughter, who is 9 months old.

He has been attending the Living Well Service and kindly shared his experiences:

“I worked every day as a builder until I retired at 59. Then I worked on my own projects. I’ve restored a lot of boats over the years, it was my hobby. I also had 19 horses. The girls got into ponies, so we did that with them.

I was very busy up until the age of 77 and then my world stopped. I was rushed to hospital in Spain and then transferred to Addenbrookes Hospital. I was in hospital for five months and I wouldn’t want to go back. There was an awful lot in that five months that I wouldn’t want to repeat. I was in bed for 11 months but I’ve come a long way since then.”

Referral to the Living Well Service 

“One day, when I was at home, I had a telephone call from someone from Arthur Rank Hospice inviting me to the Living Well Sessions. I was a bit unsure at first. I don’t mix with a lot of people. I’m not a ‘man’s man’, I’m not a ‘woman’s man’ – I’m me. I’m not alone, I’m a very family man. My family is everything to me.

The lady on the phone said ‘Come for the first session and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to come again’.”

Embracing the changes

“When I first came here, I was in a very bad place and within the first session that changed and that was down to here [the Living Well Service].

I saw a Psychologist for a start, which was excellent and also at the same time I attended the Wellbeing group with others. After my first session I thought ‘Right, this is where I’m going to do this.’

The second time I came, I visited one of the Complementary Therapists for a back massage. I’d never had anything like that before but I thought I may as well have a go while I’m here! I was doing nothing else.

Since my illness it has taken a whole lot to get my head around and I still suffer very much from what I can’t do because I was used to being busy. Now I can’t walk far. If I stand for more than five minutes, I have to sit down. So, it’s a completely different life.”

Support for my wife 

“Coming to the Living Well Service gives me and my wife a day out and when I get home in the afternoon I feel better. I just find it relaxing. I like to sit and listen and I’ve very much enjoyed it. I’ve found it very useful to talk to other patients too. The whole time I was in hospital, I didn’t speak to anyone.

Coming to the Living Well Service has been good for my wife too. She’s got the full-time job of looking after me but when I am here she gets a break. She has been going to the Bistro and writing our life story so my family can look back when we’re gone.”

Not all about dying

“When I first came, I used to say to people I was going to the Hospice and they seemed surprised, they always asked me why I was going there. I explained that it’s not all to do with going there to die, there’s very much several sides to the Hospice and I told them how good it was for my wellbeing.”

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Our ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim being to provide the highest quality care, helping people to make every moment count. You can find out more about how we are funded here: arhc.org.uk/how-we-are-funded.