My Gran endured many struggles throughout her life battling schizophrenia being one of them, this meant she was unable to work and often struggled to make ends meet. However she was the most giving and loving person you could ever imagine, always putting others before herself and trying to make sure that everyone was consistently happy. She never owned anything that she didn't sew herself or buy from the charity shop and would save for months on end prior to Christmas and birthdays in a bid to spoil us. Cancer in the end is what found its way to my Gran and unfortunately she suffered deeply with doctors declining pain relief due to her mental health as well as treatment the doctors would often tell her the pain was in her head, the cancer swiftly spread and the suffering was visible but she never complained.

My gran wanted to see me turn 18, shortly before my birthday was due we were told she would be being moved from the hospital to St davids hospice, at the time I didn't know much about what a hospice was or what it entailed but remember her being excited when everyone else was sad although the juxtaposition didn't seem alarming to me, my gran was always happy even in the toughest times.

I visited on my 18th, the building was impressive and new I expected to walk into another small cramped room with my family gathered around my gran in bed. Instead the room was massive, there were big windows that looked out onto a garden and it felt homely.

My gran gifted me with a card and a gift I knew she couldn't afford and probably spent her last pennies buying, then turned to me and said, "Ive never had luxury like this in my life, I feel like a queen, my room is huge, I can eat whatever I want if I ask for it they will make it, everyone is so nice and I am not in pain anymore." (The hospice had at this point started pain relief with my gran.) Not long after my Grandma died. 

But she died feeling no pain instead she felt special, spoilt, happy and loved all of the things she always deserved she found in the place she took her last breaths.

St davids hospice provides end of life care for people with terminal illness' and they make them feel how everyone deserves to feel, my grandma slipped away in the most beautiful way after months of watching her suffer in hospital, after years of struggle and a life time of sacrifice. 

I hope anyone who has a loved one that is nearing the end of their life can have the same experience we did and be able to benefit from the hospice's amazing support and care.

 We will never be able to thank St davids hospice enough. So in a bid to offer a small gesture I am going to run a Ultra Marathon to raise money so the Hospice is able to continue operating and helping others.