We’ve collected stories from our staff, patients and their families
We hope these examples reflect the quality care and support our patients have received. Maintaining this quality and receiving regular feedback is key to our organisation.
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Lorraine’s story
“Going into a hospice can be quite scary because the word ‘hospice’ makes you think of a place where people go to spend their final days, I had no idea there were so many activities to get involved in before that happens!”
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Penny’s story
"My initial reaction was ‘why would I want to go to a hospice, that’s where people go to die’, but I had it all wrong, hospices are also there for people like me who have just been diagnosed."
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Sandra’s Story
“Having 1:1 time with a nurse who could just focus on my needs, was amazing. I came out of the Living Well programme feeling more confident and positive about the future”
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Jan’s Story
“I’ve done about 8 weeks so far and I’ve found it very beneficial. We do different things each week – sometimes chair-based exercise, or standing exercise, some weeks we use equipment such as balls and other times we try specific types of exercise, such as tai chi."
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Liene’s Story
“They don’t just see me as a body and manage the physical symptoms. They care about my mental and spiritual wellbeing too.”
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Gyongyi and Thomas’ Story
“Without the care and support from Rennie Grove Peace Hospice, Gyongyi wouldn’t have been able to die in her own bed in our lovely woodland home - a place she felt comfortable and happy.”
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Laura’s Story
Following her cancer diagnosis, Laura was admitted to our Inpatient Unit where she was cared for by our nurses.
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Darren’s story
When Darren’s wife, Laura, died following a stay in our Inpatient Unit, our bereavement team were there to help him navigate through his grief.
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Steve’s Story
Watch Steve's video to find out how attending our Compassionate Cafés helped him cope with the loss of his partner, Samantha.
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Patricia and George’s Story
Patricia and George receive support through our Compassionate Neighbour programme. For additional respite, Patricia also attends a local Support Hub to spend time with others who are in similar positions.
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Carla’s story
"At an incredibly difficult time in my life, the bereavement counselling service really was a lifesaver for me."
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Gizella and Raj’s Story
Gizella has been a Community Member with us at Rennie Grove Peace since 2022 and has found support from her Compassionate Neighbour, Raj, to be fulfilling in more ways than one.
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Maria’s story
Maria, from St Albans, shares her experience of accessing family support services and complementary therapy at Grove House...
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Mick and Lorna’s Story
“It was such a relief to have someone come to our home and provide such wonderful care.”
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Millesent’s Story
Millesent Marizani is part of our new Rennie Grove Peace Overnight Hospice at Home Team that provides overnight care for patients with life-limiting illnesses in SW Hertfordshire. She shares her story.
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Pat and Maria’s Story
“When a patient and their family come through the door, I can recognise that sense of relief because I have personally experienced it.”
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Compassionate Café story: What to expect
We spoke to a Compassionate Café attendee about her first experience and how it gave her the opportunity to open up in a judgement free environment.
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Caroline’s Story
“Every time Mum was given a prognosis by doctors she fought so hard that she doubled their estimates! But by 2023 she was starting to deteriorate and that’s when the Rennie Grove Peace nurses stepped in."
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Karuna’s Story
Karuna has been an Inpatient Unit Nurse at Rennie Grove Peace for 2 years. She explains why her role is not only important to patients and those around them, but also to her.
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Josh’s Story
“As Josh’s family, we felt so out of control. We couldn’t help him get better and we couldn’t change his diagnosis, but the one thing we could do is make sure he had his wish to be at home. Rennie Grove helped us to do this, and for this we will always be grateful.”
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David’s Story
“I’ll always treasure that day. The Hospice at Home nurse went way above the call of duty to make our special day possible and I’ll always be so grateful that she found a way to make it happen. "
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Libby and Jean’s Story
Our Hospice at Home team ensured Jean and her family were provided with the care they needed. Her daughter Libby tells the story.
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Angela’s Story
Angela has been accessing Rennie Grove Peace services since a cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2022. She tells her story.
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Gabriella’s Story
Gabriella, one of our Senior Healthcare Assistants, speaks to us about her role and the impact it makes.
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Trina and Anne’s Story
“It was really reassuring to know we could call the Rennie Grove Peace nurses – day or night – and help would come.”
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Carol’s Story
“What Mum really wanted was to be comfortable at home. She loved being in her own space. Seemingly little things like being able to see her garden meant so much to her.”
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Nigel and Mandy’s story
Read about Nigel and Mandy's Compassionate Neighbour’s story and how it has positively impacted both of their lives.
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Howard’s Story
“Dad came home on the day of my parents' 58th wedding anniversary, giving him and Mum the opportunity to down a last, celebratory glass of prosecco together!"
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Eileen’s Story
Eileen participated in our 2024 London Bridges Walk in honour of her husband David, who was cared for by Rennie Grove Peace. She tells the story...
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Patient story: Counselling and Reflexology
“I’m so glad I was referred to Rennie Grove Peace to access these treatments at Grove House. It was so helpful for me at a very difficult time and I now want to make sure that other people know about, and access, these services when they need them.”
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Barbara and Bill’s Story
“From that point on, things looked up. Nobody could save my Bill from what was coming – but we felt safe now. Knowing the nurses were there 24/7 was like having someone’s arms around you all the time."
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Sue’s Story
"As well as the care and support for Mum’s clinical needs, my sister and I needed the reassurance that comes from having a team at the end of the phone to call any time for advice and support."
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Colin’s Story
"Colin wanted to be at home and die at home – that was very important to him."
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Brian’s story
"The service that Rennie Grove Peace provides is unspeakably important. There is nothing that can prepare you for the finality of someone passing, but to be guided gently through the process by experienced hands helped prevent the experience from ever deteriorating into all-out hell."
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Dave’s story
‘Hospice sounded so final, but once we’d been referred to Rennie Grove, we realised ‘hospice’ didn’t just mean end of life. What it meant for Dad was the chance to keep living his life the way he wanted to, for as along as possible...’
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Brenda’s story
Peace Hospice has changed our lives and the provision of continuous support and specialist knowledge at difficult and uncertain times is allowing Mum to fulfil her wishes to stay in her own home
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Jason and Dave’s Story
Jason's Compassionate Neighbour, Dave, visits him every week and have developed a lovely friendship. Read their story and learn how you can access our service.
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Julie’s story
Having been diagnosed with bowel cancer in September 2020, Julie, 64, was told in January she had just three months ...
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Linda’s Story
Linda's making the most of this time of her life, from flying a Spitfire to hosting a big party now instead of a funeral later. Learn her secrets to soaring through this time of life.
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Ahnie and Fran’s story
“The Rennie Grove children’s specialists see the whole child, and they remind Ahnie’s other healthcare professionals to work together instead of treating each symptom separately.”
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Alisha Bowell’s story
Alisha Bowell was 24 when was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Months after she found out the good news that she was clear, her father Alvin was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
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Doug and Christine’s story
"All the nurses seem to have this natural ability to say and do exactly what’s necessary at the right time. They use this gift alongside other virtues to support families through the most painful part of life's journey: dedication, compassion and professionalism."
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Mandy’s story
“Rennie Grove has been a lifeline to Mum and our family and friends. Their specialist care, day and night, has guided us every step of the way and helped ensure she receives the best care. Above all, it’s meant she can stay home, where she wanted to be – and that’s just meant the world."
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Judith’s story
“The words of kindness and support that I experienced at the scar therapy clinic were a balance to the rigours of chemotherapy and its side effects."
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Margaret’s story
"she made a whole bunch of new friends during what could have been a really lonely, isolating few months...”
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Sharon’s story
Sharon was referred to Grove House's Living Well Programme during her treatment for breast cancer
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Betsy’s story
"I always come away feeling very grateful for the opportunity and thankful that I accepted the specialist children’s nurses from Rennie Grove into our lives. They have made this journey so much easier and more positive".
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Nicola’s Story
“Rennie Grove wants people to be properly ok. The charity gets people standing upright again – it doesn’t just push them in the right direction."
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Andrew’s Story
“Most of us would rather be at home knowing there’s someone to call when we need them – Rennie Grove ...
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Sienna’s story
“At just 18 months old, she had to explain how she was feeling, to describe the pain she felt,” says Mel, “and – like me – she’s had to learn to be resilient and tough during years of treatment and uncertainty.”
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Andy’s Story
Andy Cox was a fit and active husband and father-of-two in his forties when he was diagnosed with the degenerative ...
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Angela’s Story
Angela started to use Rennie Grove's day services at Grove House after being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing a ...
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Chris’s story
In April 2019, Chris Haslam took on the London Marathon and raised £7,301.20 for us, in memory of his father.
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Taylor’s story
Taylor's mum tells us about the difference the children's Hospice at Home and play teams have made to Taylor's life.
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Ethne and Tad’s story
"The whole family have been so impressed by the Rennie Grove nurses and the care and support they provided to ...
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Where to next?
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Volunteer with our patients, families and those who care for them
Our volunteers help support patients, families, carers and those around them in key roles across Herts and Bucks.
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Donate
Help fund specialist care for families within Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire when you donate to Rennie Grove Peace.
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Supporting Hands
The Supporting Hands service matches volunteers to patients and carers in need of companionship or practical support with everyday tasks.
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