Dying Woman Ends up in Hospice and Staff Fulfills Her Last Wish by Bringing in Her Animals

When a terminally sick patient was admitted to a hospice, the staff went the extra mile to meet her emotional needs. They arranged a moving and unforgettable reunion for her and her beloved pets.

This month a hospice center shared the story of Jan Holman, a 68-year-old woman from Chester, England that spent weeks in hospital before she was placed in the care of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

She didn't have an opportunity to bid farewell to her pets before making her final trip to the hospice facility. She longed to see her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Monty and Rowley, and her faithful horse of 10 years, Bob.

NOTHING WAS TOO MUCH EFFORT

Thankfully, the end-of-life care facility allowed Holman to have visitors. She knew she would be able to see her husband, Dennis, and perhaps her dogs. However, she never imagined she would pet her horse again.

When her husband of 46 years found out about the possible pet additions to her visitor list, he was overjoyed. He said: "The staff here have been wonderful. Nothing is too much trouble, including arranging for a horse to visit!"

COULD NEVER THANK THEM ENOUGH

Holman was not well enough to get out of bed but just being able to see her animals one last time meant the world to her. She was a horse lover and spent much of her life saddling up daily.

Holman expressed that she had missed her animals immensely in the last few weeks and could never thank the hospice facility enough for what they did for her.

CARED FOR ALL NEEDS

The deputy ward manager at the hospice, Louise Saville King, shared that they knew Holman was passionate about her animals from her first day with them. She added that they aimed to care for their patient's emotional and spiritual needs.

For their hospice facility, it was essential to provide medical and health support while also giving their patients whatever they could to assist in the other avenues of their lives.

A POSITIVE PLACE

King said: "It's about making a difference to our patients and their families in whatever way we can." She added that while people are often terrified or hesitant of moving into a hospice, it is a very "positive place."

Netizens were overwhelmed by the gesture of love and care shown toward Holman. The post, which was shared on Facebook, garnered over a thousand likes and hundreds of comments.

THE ONLINE REACTION

One user said: "Wow, truly amazing, what you were able to do for this lovely lady is priceless, never underestimate the wonderful job you all do." Another added: "Reduced me to tears, what a beautiful moment."

Commenters also recounted their own experiences with the loss of loved ones. Many pointed out the great work done by hospice staff members and thanked their various facilities for all they do to aid people in their final days.