Inspirational Stories

Simon's story
Simon is 46, has genetic emphysema and is a North Shore Hospice patient. Suss, a community nurse and Mike our CEO, will be updating our supporters and the North Shore community on our work by telling Simon's story of his journey with Hospice .. (read more)

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... (read more)

Bluff to Cape Reinga Bike Ride for Hospice – They’ve done it!
Congratulations to Steve Northey, Kim Libby, Shane Page and Tod Penberthy who have cycled 2,277kms from Bluff to Cape Reinga in 19 days and raised over $11,300 for North Shore Hospice. An amazing achievement. Thank you!!! (read more)

At 51 Gerry Faces The Battle Of His Life
At just 51 years of age, Gerry Greene, a positive, outgoing and articulate man is facing the battle of his life.... (read more)

Loosing Son Made Easier with the help of Hospice
Dean Morath was a compassionate, fun-loving person with a huge appetite for life despite adversity... (read more)

Where would we be without Hospice
As the Patron of our wonderful Hospice I would like to share an experience of Hospice from two different perspectives that a family recently shared with me... (read more)

Terminally ill, but facing the future with a positive spirit
There is not even the remotest hint of a 'poor me' attitude from Ann Peakman as she battles the final stages of cancer. Instead the 55 year old feels blessed that she has been able to have precious time with her children and husband... (read more)

Death and dying - part of life
Gabrielle Prince is a woman who sparkles with spirit and life, despite the fact that she is terminally ill and is aware she has weeks, maybe months, left to live. (read more)

Coping at Christmas Time with Family Support
My name is Maxine Pye and I am responsible for leading the Family Support team at Hospice. It’s a wonderful job and it is a privilege that so many people who share their stories with us get support from our team as grief can be so overwhelming. (read more)

No longer feeling like something the cat had dragged in
Courageous and surprisingly positive, Scott Looney is a man in his forties who is facing the battle of cancer with the help of North Shore Hospice....(read more)

A Place You Go to Live
Within half an hour of hospice staff stepping into Ruth Anderson’s home in the middle of 2007, Ruth was amazed that she was pain free after suffering terrible pain for four and a half months...(read more)

The Miracle Lady
Lyn Peddie’s doctor called her “the miracle lady”. For the past 15 years, until she died suddenly on 26 April, the Beachhaven, Auckland, resident had battled ovarian and lung cancer, and a tumour in her bowel. For the last few months of her life she suffered a recurring bladder infection while the cancer spread to her breast and neck. (read more)

Hospice Makes Journey Along Side Family
It has been said many times before and will be again... it is so often a privilege to journey with our patients and their families as they live whilst dying. In the last 12 months, Hospice staff have ‘walked’ with over 500 families on the tough journey they have made with a loved one who has been terminally ill. Major Andrew Kirby and his family was one of them.(read more)

From the Heart
The following was “hot-penned” by Sam’s wife in response to the work of the Hospice in the Community. She was happy to be able to tell her story, but asked that we kept her details anonymous.(read more)

A Christmas Story
Thank you for your interest in North Shore Hospice. I can assure you that our supporters really do make a difference, and help us here to make each day the best day possible for so many of our patients and their families. Often that is a real challenge. Despite our best efforts to help families cope with watching their loved one go through the process of death, it is always hard to say goodbye no matter when they finally die. But it can be that much harder when someone looses a loved one at special times like Christmas.(read more)

Giving and Receiving Hospice Help
Gloria Dam has taken the heartbreak of losing Moni, her husband of 44 years, and she has turned it into something positive. After Moni’s death in January 2004, Gloria has been volunteering for the North Shore hospice. Her motivation? ...(read more)

The Journey from Grieving to Supporting
Guy Blackmore has experienced first hand the amazing support that North Shore Hospice provides families during incredibly difficult times. Guy was overwhelmed by the caring and professional support Kathy and the family received from North Shore Hospice...(read more)

Keeping a sense of humour to the end
A loving wife and mother of two children, Charne Bufe died on 23 March 2006 after an eighteen-month battle with cancer. Hospice enabled her to live with cancer, and later die in her own home, just as she wanted.... (read more)

Touching Our Hearts
We receive many letters and notes from our patients' families thanking us for the special care that they and their loved ones received. These letters are very special to all the staff...(read more)

Hospice Provides Crucial Care and Support
A dearly loved wife and mother, Lorna Sloper was a warm, giving woman who bravely battled cancer for three years... (read more)

Hospice helps to fulfil last wish
Fun-loving and artistic, Felicity Smith was a woman who lived life to the full until she was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1989. From then on she battled bravely with a chronic illness... (read more)

Hospice Help Continues Long After Death
A creative and vibrant woman, Lee Taylor-Smith was only 48 years old when she died of an aggressive brain tumour. The hospice was there to care for her during the last months of her life... (read more)

Hospice Connections
With a sparkle in his blue eyes and a deep chuckle that punctuates his speech, Rodger Strom is a man who is not letting life get him down even as he battles prostate cancer... (read more)

The Day to Day Help of Hospice
Bravely battling cancer at age 76, Tom Read is a warm, caring man who is still enjoying living in his own home with his wife Pam. A retired warehouse manager with a great love of sport... (read more)

Hospice Help Makes A Difference
Married for 44 years, Ron's beloved wife Mary died in January 2005 after a battle with cancer. With the help of hospice, Ron was able to care for Mary in their home... (read more)

Romance Blossoms after Tragedy
Gordon and Jean both lost their spouses to cancer in December 1999 and their families encouraged them to take up the offer of hospice bereavement counselling... (read more)

Celebrating Life
Sharon Presnell is an exotic belly dancer, beautiful and extremely caring. She recently organised a highly successful fundraiser for the North Shore Hospice as a way of thanking... (read more)

Survivor of Double Tragedy now a Hospice Volunteer
A caring, generous woman in her early seventies, Helen Findlay knows first hand the pain of loss. Her first husband died suddenly... (read more)

Two Sides Of Hospice Caring
Married for 46 years, Earline and Noel Muir are a warm, caring couple who know first hand the invaluable work that North Shore Hospice does. Earline has been a volunteer... (read more)

Ella's Memory Lives On
Ella Mackie was a bright and beautiful six-year old who loved her pets, enjoyed watching Harry Potter and spending time with her friends and family. Her parents, Jane and Trevor, remember... (read more)

A Tribute to Elsie Tillett
"Through your compassion and selflessness, battling for social justice, you have shown us the courage of your convictions and the ability to translate them into actions... (read more)

Former Chairman Recognised
Wilf Marley, our former Chairman and a founding Trustee, was honoured by the award of the Queen's Service Medal for community service. Wilf has been a Trustee since 1988... (read more)

The Love and Compassion that Hospice Provides
A proud and dignified 72-year-old man, Raupene Pouata was diagnosed with cancer in March 2003. His step-daughter, Linda, talks about... (read more)

Lucy - A Hospice Nurse Talks about Her Profession
Lucy in the sky with diamonds. That's my friend Lucy. Probably not what the Beatles were referring to, but in this case a beautiful jewel... (read more)