Shenel’s Story
Shenel kindly shared with us her battle with cancer and her experience whilst staying at the Hospice.
The Hospice took care of me. They gave me back my independence and choice – even little things like being able to choose my meals and getting washed and dressed every day. I can’t describe how much of a difference it made to me.
Shenel
I first went to the doctor about persistent problems with vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness and generally feeling unwell in October 2023. I had suffered from a head injury earlier in the year, which my practitioner attributed most of my symptoms to that injury.
I was prescribed tablets for my vertigo, but they had no effect and as time went on my symptoms worsened. They got so bad that I was struggling to walk or see. It was not only terrifying to me, but my whole family as well, especially my son, who I was his main caregiver.
I was sent for brain scans in May 2024, which revealed a large tumour. At the time, my doctor believed it to be a meningioma (a slow growing tumour that often has little effect on the patient or their lives). I was sent home the next day with steroids to help reduce the swelling, in hopes that it would stop affecting my sight and movement. Over time, my paralysis, vertigo and sight only grew worse. It was horrendous, I couldn’t do anything and I wasn’t able to speak with anyone. It was so frightening – we had no other choice but to go to A&E.
At the A&E in Basingstoke, the hospital carried out a full body scan and MRI. The results revealed that my tumour was far more aggressive than initially diagnosed and was a result of lung cancer that had not been discovered until now. I was told that the tumour was inoperable due to the severity of my symptoms. It was at this time that I was introduced to St. Michael’s Hospice.
At the time I just thought ‘this is it’, there was nothing else that anyone was willing to do to help. The Hospice doctor visited me at home to assess me, and while my symptoms were severe, they believed that operating to remove the tumour would ease my symptoms, giving me a better quality of life.
The Hospice doctors advocated for me to receive the operation, and it was carried out at Southampton hospital in July, successfully removing the majority of the tumour. I spent two weeks in the hospital recovering. Then, I was moved to Basingstoke hospital briefly, before coming to the Hospice.
The Hospice took care of me. They gave me back my independence and choice – even little things like being able to choose my meals and getting washed and dressed every day. I can’t describe how much of a difference it made to me. I was determined to gain back as much independence as I could, and the Hospice teams worked hard to provide me with every opportunity to help achieve it. They monitored my vitals and managed my pain and dizziness, and slowly my sight returned.
“It has been wonderful to work with Shenel. She was so unwell when I first met her, and it has been lovely to see how much her symptoms have improved. Shenel has such a fun personality, she is far more than her medical problems and it has been a delight to see her feeling better and being able to prioritise things which really matter to her: good food, her garden, her family.” – Dr McDonald, Palliative Care Doctor at St. Michael’s Hospice
The Hospice Physiotherapy team worked on gaining my strength back in my arms and legs. Soon I was able to get myself around using a wheelchair. However, the team felt that with my progress, I would benefit from a mo-lift (which enables the patient to stand using their arms and legs).
I didn’t expect it to be like this. I thought a Hospice would be a gloomy, dull, dark place with ill people calling out. It’s nothing like that, it’s so calm and peaceful. All the staff are so caring and want the best for you – not just what is best for your illness. I was even able to visit home, go shopping and use all the facilities, like the therapy rooms and gardens in the Hospice using the mo-lift and wheelchair.
“The Hospice Fundraising team quickly worked to apply for a grant and were able to successfully purchase a mo-lift for Shenel, giving her the independence to stand and even walk short distances again. We are very grateful to have the mo-lift available for our patients to use, and already this has made a huge difference in the care we provide. Shenel, who had previously become bedbound due to her disease, with the use of this equipment, we were able to help her out of bed, which meant she could have a shower for the first time in weeks, and could get into a wheelchair. Within a few days she was able to move herself around the ward and garden in her wheelchair. We were hoping to be able to order her own mo-lift, but due to supplier delays this was not ready for her by the time she could go home. Where previously she would have had to spend another week in a hospice inpatient bed, we were able to loan her our equipment so she could go home and return to her family and her garden which she adores.” – Charlotte Martinelli, Physiotherapist
It is such a wonderful place. The rooms are lovely, and the Family room is really nice. My husband has been able to visit everyday, and my friends and family have all been able to come and see me. My brother came to visit with my son, we ordered food to eat around the table in the Family room together. My improvements have been incredible, more than I ever imagined, and with the support of the Hospice team in the In-patient Unit and our Hospice at Home team, I haven’t been home properly in almost 6 months, at one point I didn’t think I would come home again. Our house is set up for wheelchair access already for my son, but the team have even let me take the mo-lift home to help me get around more easily.
My biggest fear about going home is my family seeing me at my worst. I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am now, I’m just scared of losing it again. But the Hospice is so supportive, and they have reassured me that I can come back when I need them.