When Margaret received her cancer diagnosis, her first response was: ‘I’ve still got so much to do. I have to see The Tina Turner Musical.’ Thanks to HammondCare Foundation’s Dreams Project, Margaret got to see the show, supported by palliative care nurse Trish.
Margaret was a larger-than-life character, who loved dressing up and going out, musicals being one of her favourite pastimes. After her diagnosis, Margaret was in and out of hospital; however, her desire was always to return home for as long as possible.
Our community palliative care team supported Margaret to live comfortably at home: palliative care specialist doctors and nurses helped with symptoms and pain management; the occupational therapist supported her independence by providing the right equipment.
Our physiotherapist supervised gentle exercises to maintain her mobility and provided different walking aids as required; the social worker assisted with counselling and connection to community services; and the pastoral care coordinator provided emotional and spiritual support.
These different palliative care supports enabled Margaret to remain at home as she waited eagerly for the Tina Turner show date to arrive. Margaret had previously expressed a wish to go to one last musical and was referred on to the Dreams Project.
Anne, a social worker with the Dreams Project, helped with the logistics, making sure that Margaret was transported safely to and from the theatre in a wheelchair taxi with a nurse escort.
Palliative care nurse Trish was pivotal on the day of the musical. ‘I wanted Margaret to feel she was completely supported so she could focus on just having a good time. ’