Mrs. D discovered she had cancer during a routine check-up. It felt like her world had come crashing down. Determined to shield her children—a 3-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son—from the weight of her diagnosis, she resolved to protect their carefree childhood by keeping her struggles to herself. The decision to undergo surgery came easily after witnessing the consequences of inaction within her own family.

One day, while riding the bus, a woman noticed her swollen hand and asked how long it had been that way. The stranger then told her about the Hospice. “She was a patient there, too. I wish I could meet her to thank her for the recommendation—for the good she brought into my life.”

Initially, Mrs. D received lymphatic drainage therapy, and for the past four months, she has also been attending the Day Centre—a place that has lifted her spirits. “Here, you can open up to people who have been through the same struggles, who truly understand what it feels like to avoid looking in the mirror.”

Today, Mrs. D feels calm and at peace. Her greatest hope is for the progression of her advanced lymphedema to stop. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “Sometimes, what seems like evil is actually a hidden good—something you can’t see because you don’t yet have the strength to imagine things could get even harder, even darker.”

Hospice Casa Speranţei in Brașov (one of our Romanian hospice partners) cared for a brave 10-year-old girl named ‘M’. M was battling bone cancer, and after her tumour stopped responding to treatment, she had to leave her hometown, 100 kilometres away, to receive the palliative care she needed at our partner hospice.

M’s kindness and warmth touched everyone. Her nurse, Teo, recalls how M, eager not to upset anyone, struggled to remember the staff’s names at first. One day, she asked Teo to write her name on a sticky note and place it by her bed, just so she wouldn’t accidentally call her the wrong name.

It wasn’t long before the note became unnecessary as their friendship grew. M’s parents visited regularly, bringing small treats to brighten her days. On one occasion, they arrived with a giant watermelon. Generously, M asked Teo to cut it up so she could share it with the other children in the unit. That afternoon turned into a ‘watermelon party’, with music, dancing, and laughter that lifted everyone’s spirits!

Even on her more difficult days, when the pain was too much to bear, M remained gentle and kind. There were moments when she would lie in bed, exhausted and in tears, asking Teo the unanswerable question, “Why is this happening to me?” Teo admits there are no words to ease the weight of that question. All she could do was hold M’s hand and stay by her side. At the end of the summer, M passed away peacefully in her sleep, shortly after a visit from her parents. Though her time at Hospice was brief, her memory lives on, reminding us all of the power of kindness, love, and the small joys that can shine through, even in the most difficult times.

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Written by a nurse from BELhospice, our partner hospice in Serbia

“As a visiting nurse, I work in unique circumstances where every patient has their own story. This is the story of Mr. B.Z., a man whose final days were marked by both sorrow and dignity. Dignity in life and death is a fundamental right. As a visiting nurse, I have the privilege of helping to preserve that dignity.”

Mr. B.Z. was 78 years old and suffering from metastatic lung cancer. When I first entered his home, I was greeted by silence, broken only by the soft hum of the oxygen machine. His wife, exhausted but determined, was doing everything she could to help him. It was a modest home, filled with love and memories. Family photographs adorned the walls, while shelves overflowed with books and trinkets from times gone by, each telling its own story.

Mr. B.Z.’s condition was serious. The pain was intense, and his helplessness would sometimes make him irritable. My first task was to build trust. I sat beside him, carefully listening to his stories – how he once loved hiking in the mountains and how his family was his greatest pride. In those moments, the pain seemed to fade, even if only briefly.

Caring for him required daily visits. I provided medical advice and consulted with his doctor to ensure his pain was managed as effectively as possible. Beyond medical care, I focused on offering emotional support. We spoke about his fears but also about the joyful memories that brought him comfort.

His wife, despite her fatigue, was my strongest ally. With remarkable strength and love, she learned how to turn him, massage him gently, and assist with his hygiene. It wasn’t easy, but together, we did our best to ensure Mr. B.Z. never felt alone.

One morning, as I was preparing to visit, my phone rang. It was his wife, who softly told me that he had passed away during the night. He left peacefully, without pain, surrounded by love. At that moment, despite the sadness, I also felt a sense of relief – knowing that we had succeeded in providing him with the dignity that every person deserves.

This story is a reminder of why I do this job. It’s not just about caring for the body, but also for the soul. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give to another person is simply our presence and support in their most difficult moments.

Angelina fled the war with her mother right after she was born. She then had a very complicated surgery in Lviv. Her mother is still under stress and cannot take care of her child due to psychological problems. She is able to visit Angelina occasionally, which makes Angelina so happy.

In the children’s hospice in Ukraine, Angelina has found real friends. She is loved by nurses, therapists and other older children. But she still needs support in everything, especially in gaining weight to be ready for her next surgery.

Recently, Angelina was in poor health because her feeding tube needed urgent replacement, but the hospice lacked the funds to cover even basic necessities. As a result, she lost weight again, and her surgery had to be postponed.

“She can’t speak, but her eyes express so much—pure emotions and a silent prayer that nothing bad will happen to her,” says the nurse. “We do our best to hold back tears when we look into those intelligent, pleading eyes.”

“Dimitris was only 6 months old when he was hospitalised due to seizures. He spent 8 months in the hospital, but doctors couldn’t diagnose his condition. Suddenly, the family found themselves facing an uncertain future.

The hospital doctors said Dimitris wouldn’t live to see his 2nd birthday and referred the family to our hospice partner for support in creating a safe and warm home environment.

Dimitris’ mother learned many nursing skills through the hospice team and found a new sense of purpose in caring for him. She said, “I always felt safer in the hospital. Now, I feel Dimitris is better at home with me and with the help of Hospice”

His father is the sole provider for the family, which creates financial struggles. They also face challenges with bureaucracy, fatigue from 24-hour care, and the looming uncertainty of Dimitris’ condition. But they don’t give up. The hospice team and the family worked together to create an advanced care plan tailored to their needs and wishes.

The stairs Dimitris’ family have to climb to access their home

Dimitris being cared for by a hospice nurse

Dimitris is now 20 months old. He can’t walk or talk and eats through a tube. He doesn’t smile, except during epileptic episodes. His mother says, “We cherish these smiles, even though they aren’t real, it’s all we have.”

The hospice team taught the parents how to communicate with Dimitris through touch, hugs, kisses, music, and sound. They also helped his older brother develop a loving sibling relationship and not feel left out.

Their home is filled with love and perseverance. The hospice team stands by them, helping the family grow stronger together, not despite Dimitris’ illness, but because of it.”

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“My experience of Hospice changed me enormously. I found courage to be who I am, I found courage to be more vocal,” says Doina, a patient at one of our partner hospices.

Her cancer diagnosis came after two difficult investigations and surgeries. Unfortunately, her husband couldn’t accept her diagnosis and condition, or the way the disease had affected her both physically and mentally, and so they separated. But Doina found support in her son. “He was concerned about how I was feeling, he was interested in when I had my next chemo sessions and wanted to accompany me. This disease has changed my life and changed his, he has matured before his time”.
After surgery and five chemo sessions, Doina asked the nurses at the hospital if they knew where she could find a wig and prosthetic bra. She came across Hospice and found a second family.

“I came for a wig, but I found so much more than that! I found peace, I found my balance. I know other patients in the same situation and we can share our feelings. When I don’t make it to the day centre, I feel sad the whole week.”
Doina has also discovered a new passion through hospice, painting. She loves it so much that she doesn’t just paint when she’s there, but when she gets home. She feels it calms her mind and gives her purpose.

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