Hospice is

A happy place.
A restful place

A place with time and space to have discussions about the big things
Without forgetting to take time to enjoy the little things
Somewhere to turn those mental engines off for a while

And let others share the load.
Hospice is a place to remember

A place to reflect on the changes and troubles and stresses and worries

And a place where those troubles and worries can be faced, and acknowledged, and can therefore be put into their rightful place rather than becoming huge and overwhelming.

Hospice is a place where people aren't afraid to talk about the unthinkable
And where death can be seen as a part of life. Where decisions can be taken about medical treatment, looking at the whole of a child's life rather than its component parts, looking at overall quality of life now and in the future. Having the freedom to explore the fact that certain measures to prolong life may not actually be in the child's best interests, and trying to work out where attempts to sustain life may actually end up merely prolonging the dying.

Whether there are two children sleeping peacefully or eight children playing drums, hospice somehow remains a peaceful place

Where, no matter how busy the staff may be, someone is always available for a chat.

And despite the intensity of the conversations, the seriousness of the problems, the complexities of the child, hospice is a happy place.Tia