Young Mother Grateful for Help

Mother of two, Gwen Kroef, is grateful for the help that Hospice is giving her as she battles aggressive and advanced cervical cancer. Gwen and her husband Andre are originally from South Africa and immigrated to New Zealand a couple of years ago.

'When you come into New Zealand you do very extensive health checks,' says Gwen. 'Nothing was picked up. I think the cancer happened quite quickly, but by the time they caught the cancer it was invasive and quite advanced.

'I found out I had cancer by accident. At first I thought I had hemorrhoids - this is what my doctor told me. But I went to another doctor because I had very heavy monthlies and he sent me to hospital for tests. It was a shock to discover that I had cancer.'

It was after going through radiotherapy and chemotherapy the Cancer Society first mentioned Hospice to Gwen. Initially she was nervous about having anything to do with them.

'I thought when you go to Hospice you just go there to die. That's it, you don't come out. So I didn't want to go in because I've got kids. My doctor convinced me I needed their help so I went in and I'm so pleased that I did.'

Before Gwen went into the In Patient Unit she was in constant pain. 'It was a nightmare and I really felt quite desperate. I had zero quality of life and I was in pain 24/7. I was on so many medications! They didn't seem to be working and for every drug there would be so many side effects. I was in the In Patient Unit for two weeks and they got everything sorted. I'm now on a fraction of the medication I was on before.'

Gwen was impressed with the facilities and level of care she received while she was in Hospice - and she was grateful that her family could come and visit any time. 'It was a really good experience and I found it was quite homely. I had a room with a wonderful view and my own bathroom and balcony. The hospital experience was a nightmare and it was traumatic on the kids. The Hospice experience was lovely and the children enjoyed visiting me there.

'The food was really good too! They cooked whatever I wanted and I had things like beef stroganoff. If I wanted more food later in the evening they would make me more food. It has been a bit of a mission keeping my weight up, but it's getting better. When I first went into Hospice all I could eat was a slice of bread and that was it. I'm now picking up kilos like you can't believe, it's brilliant!'

Now back at home, while Gwen still has bad days she now has a lot more energy to do things - even having the energy to move house recently. 'I'm building up my strength and it is taking time. My immune system is still quite low and I get flu's and other illnesses all the time. But it has improved and I would say I have fifty percent more quality of life than what I had before. For example, before, just having a bath was an absolute mission - I just couldn't do it, but now I can. I can cook food now, whereas before I didn't have the energy. '

The Hospice phone regularly to see how Gwen is doing which she finds gives her good peace of mind that they are in contact with her. 'The difference the Hospice has made is huge. You don't realise when you are in pain how much it changes your personality - you climb into your shell and you don't want to see people. Now that I'm out of pain, although I still have my bad days, I feel more chirpy and I can socialise.'

Gwen realises that she was quite depressed before she went into Hospice - something that she was trying to hide from everyone, but now she feels she is getting the support she needs to talk about how she feels.

'If I hadn't had Hospice help I probably would have jumped off a bridge by now. Seriously, I was in so much pain and I was going through depression. I just got deeper and deeper into it. But the Hospice has been fantastic in helping me. They do so much more than just pain management - they really care and I'm very grateful for all they have done.'

Karen McMillan