FOR Ping Banford and loving husband Michael, being treated with dignity and care by Birmingham Hospice has made the difference at the most difficult moment of their lives.
Ping is receiving palliative and end of life care from our Community Team for a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST), which is a rare stomach cancer.
The couple’s story began when builder Mike was working on Ping’s family home and plucked up the courage to ask permission to take her out on a date.
Ping, who grew up the Tianjin Municipality, was swept away by the dashing gentleman and after several years of courting the couple married in China in 1999. Together, they built a life in Birmingham, with Ping becoming a respected member of the city’s Chinese community.
But in 2019, they were stunned when Ping started to experience a range of digestive issues and doctors discovered the GIST had been slowly developing for several years.
Mike said: “I remember the nurse telling us to prepare ourselves for a long journey. Within hours Ping was in the ward being treated, and the doctor told us the cancer she had is very rare and has no cure.”
Ping lost weight and was in constant pain because of her condition and Mike did his best to care for his wife. When she was referred to Birmingham Hospice earlier this year, they both felt a sense of relief that she would receive the support she needed.
Placed under the care of our Community Team, they are supported by Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Laura Gray, who quickly built a rapport with them.
Laura coordinated with our Pharmacy Team to find the right levels of medication to help alleviate Ping’s pain, as she was particularly sensitive to medication.
As part of their roles, CNSs also discuss Advanced Care Planning (ACP) with their patients, which empowers them to make an informed decision about where they will be cared for at the end of their lives.
“A lot of people come out with all this medical jargon but Laura speaks English as we understand it,” commented Mike.
“We’d be lost without her and would probably feel as if we are in no man’s land.”
Ping added: “Every time Laura comes to visit it makes me feel really happy; she’s so warm and caring and when she talks, I understand what is happening.”
Laura collaborated with other teams to arrange for Ping to spend time in our Inpatient Unit (IPU) for a period of symptom control in July. During this time, she was able to visit our Living Well Centre where she enjoyed interacting with fellow patients. She has also started to attend the centre each week.
The couple were won over by the friendly and approachable outlook of everyone at the hospice. Ping, who was a chef and loves to cook, was also impressed when our Catering Team made food especially for her.
“Everyone at the hospice is so friendly and was able to take time to have a chat with me; they even made me some noodles,” said Ping, who has also shared her hospice experience with family in China.
“The nurses, the doctors, the cleaners and even the cooks; they’re nice people who made me feel so welcome.”
Mike’s perception of hospice care has also been transformed by their experience, and he concluded: “It’s quiet and there’s always somebody on hand to help. You’re not on your own, but you’ve got your own space, and everybody looks out for you. Genuinely, it’s a nice place.”
