Terry Hale was a much-loved husband and father to wife Katie and daughter Charlotte. He loved mountain biking, scootering and used to play for Birmingham Bulls American Football team.
“Terry was one of those people who once you met him, you would never forget him. He was the life and soul of the party,” said Katie.
However, in 2020, the whole family’s life was turned upside down when Terry, who was only 60 years-old, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and given between three and five years to live.
For the family-man the diagnosis was a huge shock. MND damages the nervous system and leads to muscle weakness, meaning Terry lost his appetite, struggled to breathe and had to give up his active lifestyle.
When he was referred to Birmingham Hospice, Terry and his family were supported at first by our expert team of Clinical Nurse Specialists, caring for him at home, and later he stayed in the Inpatient Unit for round-the-clock care.
Katie said: “The last two weeks of Terry’s life were particularly stressful, he deteriorated quickly, and we felt so lost and desperate for support.
“As soon as we arrived at the hospice, I felt a huge weight lifted from me. The hospice took over his medication so I could be with Terry, sit by his side and be his wife not his carer, which I hadn’t felt for some time.
“Unfortunately, Terry passed away the day after he was admitted but the care and support we received was outstanding and made an awful time in our lives the best it could be.”
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