Kilbryde Hospice Before I Die wall

Kilbryde Hospice Before I Die wall

Here at Kilbryde Hospice in East Kilbride, despite being in our infancy, we have been engaging with patients, carers, staff and volunteers to tell us their hopes and dreams before they die. We discussed the topic over the last week (18/5/15 – 22/5/15) alongside staff from NHS Lanarkshire who were encouraging patients and carers to consider completing an anticipatory care plan. Completion of this document allows patients and carers to have their concerns and goals recorded and for health care professionals to understand their wishes for their illness and their end of life.

Our “Before I die I want to” blackboard raised some thought provoking conversations and a few raised eyebrows but on the whole allowed us to consider the future. The diversity of comments was refreshing and humbling all in one. One patient mentioned that he hadn’t thought about his aspirations for the future despite having a life limiting illness diagnosed but he would consider it now. We patiently await his thoughts…

See below for a selection of our thoughts and aspirations.

Before I die, I want to…

Go to France

Sing live with a big band orchestra

Visit Ireland as it is one place I haven’t seen

See Central Park and have a picnic

Bring back the horse – DONE!

Visit the Grand Canyon

See Kilbryde Hospice open with in-patients

See my three grandchildren grow up and do well in life

Meet Terry Waite

See a cure for Parkinson’s

Go snorkelling/scuba diving

Whale watching in Iceland

Visit New Orleans and dance until the sun comes up

See the work and make lots of memories with my family

Stroke a giraffe

Learn something new each day

Live life to the full

Be happy and be a great Mum to my children

See the Northern Lights

Meet Billy Connolly

Be happy

Margaret Mary Cowan, Clinical Services Manager, Kilbryde Hospice