Inspirational Stories

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 hospice does. Earline has been a volunteer for many years, and for the last four years Noel has been a patient. They both talk about their different experiences of hospice.

'Originally I worked as an in-patients on-call person,' says Earline. 'I was there to take the pressure off the nursing staff. I would answer the telephone, handle enquires, help families with information - really whatever was needed. I'd help serve food occasionally, sometimes made beds. I enjoyed helping.'

As a child, Earline spent three months in hospital with a mild form of polio, and this had a big impact on her. She started caring for others at a young age.

'I could see that the nurses were run off their feet so I used to help them. When I was allowed out of bed, I made beds for the other children. I often read stories to the little ones. I could see the nurses didn't have time to do that, so I did it.'

Later Earline's mother had to have major surgery. Earline was still at school, and their GP suggested that she do some work as a nurse aide, which was permissible in those days. This proved to be a great help for both her and her mother.

'When the hospice started, I could see that I could do something. I've always had that thing at the back of my mind, that if I can help sick people, I will.'

Today Earline is part of a team that organises the beautiful flower arrangements that adorn the hospice.

'Flower arrangements are important at hospice - they bring pleasure to everyone. And they are a wonderful thing to work with. They have certainly been my God-send while Noel has been unwell. I am able to go off and work with flowers while others come to keep Noel company. I can just lose myself in flowers.'

In 2000 Noel discovered he had cancer. He was having trouble walking and had muscle pain that the specialists attributed to an old accident. On investigation the doctors found that Noel had multiple myeloma cancer - a cancer that is not curable, but is controllable.

'The specialist put me into hospital and put a steel rod into my leg to prevent breakage,' says Noel. 'It took me 18 months before I was off the crutches, but eventually I got free of them. I had about another year of the cancer being controllable. I was fit enough to get out and do my duties on the America's Cup.'

Noel worked as a radio operator and recorder during the Louis Vuitton Challenges (2000 & 2003) on the Course Marshall's boat. But the first day of the America's Cup 2003 racing was a disaster not just for Team New Zealand, but also for Earline and Noel. They both remember 15 February vividly.

'On the first day of the America's Cup racing I got tossed around in the boat and I ended up with a crushed vertebrae, damaged ribs and a concussion,' says Noel.

'At the same time that Team New Zealand were bailing buckets of water off the yacht in the first race, Noel was being thrown about in two and half metre seas,' remembers Earline. 'It was all happening in the first twenty minutes of that race.'

Unfortunately the accident reactivated the cancer, but today Noel says the cancer appears to be stabilising again. They both credit the hospice for caring for their family over the past four years.

'We registered with the hospice way back in 2000, at our GP's suggestion,' says Noel. 'They have really looked after me.'

Noel has been in hospice to have his medication monitored on occasion, and the hospice has provided welcome respite for Earline also.

'They really make a difference for our family,' says Earline. 'In January I was able to go to the tennis - the Men's Open - with a friend. Noel was in the hospice so I could go to the tennis without worrying. Noel was going into have his medication juggled around and they magically came up with the timing so I could do this. It was really great!'

The hospice nurses visit the family at home every Tuesday and Earline is impressed with how they have taken Noel off the large quantities of drugs he was initially taking.

'The hospice doctors actually took the time to sit down and analyze what he was taking. They worked out how to par the drugs right back and still have all the jobs taken care of.'

'The nurses and doctors are always available if you want them,' says Noel. 'Just at the drop of a hat they will call in and spend time with you and have a chat. They really make you feel at home and give you a lot of confidence.'

The family also praise the family meetings that they have had. They had them every couple of days when Noel was in the hospice. Their daughter found them especially useful and informative as she wasn't living at home. Noel has also found the chaplain counsellor extremely helpful to him. The last word about hospice belongs to a small group of hospice volunteers.

'Some of the volunteers specialise in foot rubbing and leg massage,' says Noel. 'I tell you - it is better than home comforts!'