SYLVIA Phillips was a proud grandmother with a brilliant sense of humour who always put her family at the heart of everything she did.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, strong-willed Sylvia was determined to remain independent for as long possible with the support of those who loved her the most.
She was referred to Birmingham Hospice after it was discovered by doctors that the illness had spread to her lymph nodes.
As her condition worsened, she was admitted into our Inpatient Unit (IPU) and received high quality personalised care to ensure she had the dignity and comfort she deserved at the end, which also allowed her family the space to say goodbye. Sylvia died peacefully in August 2019.
Grandson Ryan Smith recalls many happy times at his nan’s house, eating Sunday dinners and spending Christmas day there while he was growing up.
He said: “We always used to go around to Nan’s for Christmas and play games, which was nice. She was a very caring person and was always involved in the family’s lives and would try to help and give advice.
“Nan also had this incredible talent of turning run-of-the-mill stories into the most interesting and hilarious thing you’ve ever heard.”
The family were impressed with how the IPU Team diligently checked on Sylvia and administered pain relief, which made a noticeable difference and ensured her final days were as comfortable as possible.
Relatives and loved ones were also welcomed into the hospice and could visit her at any time, as well as use our beautifully kept gardens.
“The hospice was brilliant and treated Nan, who was a very proud woman, with a lot of respect,” said Ryan.
“It wasn’t just how they treated her, it was how they treated the whole family; at one point there were 20 people visiting, but the staff were really kind and considerate.”
The hospice also strove to meet their spiritual needs by organising for a vicar to say a prayer.
“Nan was going in and out of consciousness, but I could tell she was awake at that point and really appreciated it,” commented Ryan.
The care his nan received from Birmingham Hospice has stayed with him and he added: “Every time I pass the hospice I still think of Nan, which shows how well she was treated and how much I valued how the hospice cared for her.”
The family continue to support our work, with Sylvia’s name added to Astro the Memorabull from our Bulls in the City art trail, while Ryan recently made a splash by raising £335 in our Swim Challenge.
Over a five-week period he swam five kilometres at Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre and smashed his own target to raise money, which will help to fund our palliative and end of life care for people when they need it.
He added: “It was a way to give back in memory of someone I loved but it’s also about making sure people who I’ve never met receive the same hospice experience we did.”
