'Finally we could just be daughters to Mum again': How this charity was there for one family during the toughest time of their lives….
Ad Feature by Marie Curie
From sleeping by her bedside every night and gently encouraging her to eat, to reassuring her when she was scared, Kelly Machen and her sister Emma went above and beyond to care for their mother when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
So when Jacqui Holroyd needed to go into a Marie Curie hospice for treatment to control her symptoms, they were concerned she wouldn’t be receiving the same levels of care they were giving her.
But they needn’t have worried.
Sisters Kelly and Emma with mum Jacqui Holroyd, a retired residential social worker for people with dementia
'When we arrived at the hospice we were stunned,' admits Kelly. 'Straight away we felt all the hospice staff – doctors, nurses, cooks, cleaners, everyone – were there for all of us. They weren’t only caring for Mum.
'The place is absolutely amazing. We couldn’t have asked for better care.'
Retired residential social worker Jacqui was the ultimate dog-lover and when she wasn't working with people with dementia, she bred dogs and even showed them at dog shows.
Jacqui's diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer in 2020 devastated her two devoted daughters but they were determined to do their best by her.
And they did – the care they gave her helped extend her life from the original nine months prognosis to over three years.
But it wasn’t plain sailing. Jacqui needed several stays in hospital which were difficult enough, but then in October 2023, required treatment at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford to bring her pain and nausea under control.
It was a terrible shock for Kelly and Emma.
'When we arrived at the hospice we were stunned,' admits Kelly. 'The place is absolutely amazing. We couldn’t have asked for better care.'
Jacqui pictured at the Marie Curie Hospice Bradford with Marie Curie Healthcare Assistant Julie, daughter Kelly (blond hair), granddaughter Bethany and baby Beau
'As a family we’ve always tried to think positive,' says Kelly. 'From the day Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer we all fought together.
'So, when the word ‘hospice’ was mentioned, we really didn’t want to think about it. It felt like saying that was the end, that we couldn’t do anything more for her.'
But she was in safe hands. Marie Curie has spent over 75 years caring for those who are terminally ill – not just with cancer but also any other life-limiting illness.
They’re the largest charitable funder of palliative care in the UK so they know what matters most to patients and families when someone is nearing the end of their life.
And they were soon able to get Jacqui’s pain and nausea under control. For the first time in months, the dog-lover began to recover her appetite and hospice chefs would cook her exactly what she fancied.
She also began to enjoy meeting others going through the same experiences as her and joining in with wellbeing groups.
'At Marie Curie they really cared for Mum,' says Kelly. 'They never just left her, as had happened in the hospital.
'Mum thought the staff were fabulous. We’ll never forget what they did for us all,' says Kelly.
'We felt like we could be daughters to Mum again. It was hard to let go of the caring responsibilities in the first few days, but it became such a comfort to see just how much the hospice staff knew what they were doing.
'It took that pressure off us as a family, and it had a big impact on Mum too. She didn’t want us feeling anxious and scared.
'She was comfortable and content, and that mattered more than anything to us. Mum thought the staff were fabulous. We’ll never forget what they did for us all.'
But that wasn’t where Marie Curie’s role ended. Because Jacqui wanted to die in the home where she’d lived for 40 happy years, surrounded by her loved ones.
It’s a simple thing to hope for, but even though we would all choose to die free from pain and feeling cared for, one in four of us don’t have this experience.
And that’s where Marie Curie comes in. They run community teams dedicated to caring for people in their own homes as they reach the end.
One of these is the REACT team in Yorkshire and as the name suggests, when someone calls needing something like medication, they react. And quickly.
'Back home they took over most of the care, which was a big sigh of relief to me and Emma because we were just beside ourselves,' remembers Kelly.
'You'd ring them and within 10 minutes, they'd be there. They were in and out about four or five times a day. It wasn't easy, but I don't know what we would have done without them.'
Their care enabled 69-year-old Jacqui to die peacefully and pain free with her daughters by her side.
'When Mum took that last breath, she was at peace,' says Kelly. 'She wasn't panicked. She was asleep, and she went peacefully, and we have Marie Curie to thank for that.'
If you need help and support from Marie Curie, visit mariecurie.org.uk or call 0800 090 2309
FROM TALKING TO HOSPICE CARE, MARIE CURIE IS THERE FOR YOU
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity, working alongside the NHS to provide crucial services to support anyone with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones.
This includes many conditions including advanced cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Motor Neurone Disease and many more.
Here's how Marie Curie can help.
Telephone and online support
From how to access services to practical information on terminal illness, dying or grief, help is available online or on the telephone.
Hospice care
Whether you have months, weeks or days left, Marie Curie’s experienced nurses and healthcare assistants provide help and emotional support for you and those close to you too, at home or in their hospices across the UK.
Companion volunteers
If you’re living with a terminal illness or caring for someone who is, companion volunteers focus on what's important to you and those close to you. It might be accompanying you to appointments, being there to listen to how you're feeling, or stepping in so family or carers can take a break.
Visit mariecurie.org.uk to find out more.
