Emily joined St. Rocco’s Hospice in March this year after working in the Intensive Care Unit at Warrington Hospital. She has recently introduced Memory Bears to the hospice.
“We used to have teddies on ICU that could record a patient’s pulse, and we would give them to families who were visiting loved ones who were really poorly on the ward.
One mother, Jilly, tragically lost her son and we gave her the last bear we had with a recording of her son’s heartbeat. Jilly treasured the gift so much that she went on to set up Oliver Abel’s Wish, a charity that donates special teddy bears that contain a recording device inside across the UK to help families at their hardest times. She is an inspiration, taking such a sad moment in her life and using Oliver’s memory to spread comfort to others.”
After starting as a nurse at St. Rocco’s, Emily saw an opportunity to set up this initiative for our patients and their loved ones. She reached out to Jilly who kindly donated free bears to the hospice.
“At around the same time as receiving the bears, a relative approached our team and asked if there was anything she could donate to the ward in memory of her mum who had recently passed away at St. Rocco’s. I told her about the Memory Bears, and she was only too happy to help. She bought us a foetal doppler – a scanning device that can record heartbeats.”
Emily told us that they have already started to give out memory bears to some loved ones and has said that the reactions are emotional and heart-warming to see.
“One patient had picked out some beautiful jewellery and left a special voice recorded message for his wife to thank her for their many happy years together. We gave the Memory Bear to her after he passed away; it was such a precious moment.”
We are so grateful to Emily for her dedication and commitment in providing comfort to our patients and their families at such a difficult time. And also to Oliver Abel’s Wish for their kindness in donating the bears.
To find out more about Memory Bears, you can contact the hospice on 01925 575780 or email enquiries@stroccos.org.uk
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