It's so bitter sweet

George was admitted into the hope house hospice for crisis care and to offer some much needed respite. It's so difficult leaving him behind but it is what we all needed. The staff love him to bits and bicker over who's having cuddles next. Their level of care is exceptional and they feel like extended family. The volunteer gp examined George, offering up a new care plan and medication reveiw in a bid to make him comfortable. We tell the staff stories of our gofundme success, smiles of joy fill their faces. The physio excitedly shares new plans to help George. We say our goodbyes and head home. It's almost tea time by the time we arrive, we walk the dogs and then settle with a drink. Nodding off with drink in hand, Natalie manages to remove my glass without me noticing.... something she doesn't usually achieve. As we sit each fighting the sleep we decide to go to bed at 8pm. Almost asleep before our heads hit the pillow. The house just isn't the same without George! When we wake early in the morning, there's no nappies to change or formula to prepare We find ourselves scrolling through picture after picture of George. It's only now we realise how few we have as a family and how all the scenes are sadly the same. Typical of moden day living, we find we have hundreds of pictures stored nicely on our phones but very few on display in the house. Something we have promised will change and will ensure prints are ordered during this respite stay. F1 qualifying watched with a brew in bed, dogs walked and now the house to clean but not before having another brew in the shadow of George's pool base. We sit dreaming of time we will spend with George in the water. Imagining the smile on his face and his little legs kicking happily away. Roll on lunch time and our visit to see our special little boy! For this crisis stay to happen a family have had to give up their routine respite. We are so grateful and can only feel the disappointment they will be feeling, weekend plans dashed on a Thursday morning. As a family that use the hospice we understand the predicaments we all face and will always support the families with the greatest need. To offer some perspective on the hospice. It costs £7.5million to run the hospice which is proving us with a vital service. They recieve only 2 months statutory support and have to raise the defecit through fundraising and donations. One night of respite costs £1500. bitter sweet. George was admitted into the hope house hospice for crisis care and to offer some much needed respite. It's so difficult leaving him behind, we have had to many nights apart already, but it is what we all need. The staff love him to bits and bicker over who's having cuddles next. Their level of care is exceptional and they feel like extended family. The volunteer gp examined George, offering up a new care plan and medication reveiw in a bid to make him comfortable. We tell the staff stories of our gofundme success, smiles of joy fill their faces. The physio excitedly shares new plans to help George. We say our goodbyes and head home. It's almost tea time by the time we arrive, we walk the dogs and then settle with a drink. Nodding off with drink in hand, Natalie manages to remove my glass without me noticing.... something she doesn't usually achieve. As we sit each fighting the sleep we decide to go to bed at 8pm. Almost asleep before our heads hit the pillow. The house just isn't the same without George! When we wake early in the morning, there's no nappies to change or formula to prepare We find ourselves scrolling through picture after picture of George. It's only now we realise how few we have as a family and how all the scenes are sadly the same. Typical of moden day living, we find we have hundreds of pictures stored nicely on our phones but very few on display in the house. Something we have promised will change and will ensure prints are ordered during this respite stay. F1 qualifying watched with a brew in bed, dogs walked and now the house to clean and maybe a coupe games of darts, but not before having another brew in the shadow of George's pool base. We sit dreaming of time we will spend with George in the water. Imagining the smile on his face and his little legs kicking happily away. Roll on lunch time and our visit to see our special little boy! For this crisis stay to happen a family have had to give up their routine respite. We are so grateful and can only feel the disappointment they will be feeling, weekend plans dashed on a Thursday morning. As a family that use the hospice we understand the predicaments we all face and will always support the families with the greatest need. To offer some perspective on the hospice. It costs £7.5million to run the hospice which is proving us with a vital service. They recieve only 2 months statutory support and have to raise the defecit through fundraising and donations. One night of respite costs £1500. We have received more donations early on a Saturday morning and as always we are extremely grateful. Thanks again to you all!