Max's story | Stories | Hospice in the Weald

In 2023, Max’s grandmother, Pam died at Cottage Hospice in Five Ashes, aged 77. After being diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer and undergoing palliative radiotherapy, Pam made it clear to her family that when the time came, she wished to be cared for by Hospice in the Weald.

Her final wish was lovingly fulfilled.

Pam’s journey with the Hospice began at home, supported by our Outreach team. Between visits, a volunteer named Anji would come and read to Pam, offering comfort and companionship. This small act of kindness gave Pam’s husband, Mick, and daughter, Sam, much-needed moments of rest. Sam also received counselling from the Hospice, helping her navigate the emotional weight of her mother’s diagnosis, both during this tough time as well as after.

In the final days of Pam’s life, she was transferred to the Cottage Hospice where she spent three peaceful days surrounded by her family. Max recalls opening a freezer full of ‘COOK’ meals, sharing a bottle of wine, and feeling a sense of warmth and togetherness. “It felt like a home from home,” he said. “The hospice was our family.”

Pam was Max’s first experience of losing a close relative and as he reflects on her time at the Hospice, he finds comfort in the memories — not of illness, but of love, dignity, and care.

One moment in particular stands out.

Towards the end of her life, Max received a call while on shift at the hospital in Cambridge, to inform him that Pam was being transferred to the hospice. Without hesitation, he left work and drove straight down to be with his family. When he arrived, still in his scrubs, he remembers laughing with the hospice staff who kindly offered him a change of clothes and a room to leave his belongings. It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the warmth and humanity of the care they all received from the outset.

Now training to become a GP, Max’s path has been shaped by personal experiences. His Grandpa, once given a 1% chance of survival, lived on for another ten years — inspiring Max’s commitment to medicine. But it was Pam’s final days at the hospice that have truly defined his approach.

“The hospice provided unmedicalised care,” he says. “This holistic approach has shaped who I am now and how I treat my patients.”

Max remembers being included in conversations by the hospice’s medical team, who not only spoke to Pam about her symptoms and comfort but also turned to his family and asked, “How are you all getting on?”. It was a simple question, but one that brought immense comfort during a difficult time.

Max’s journey to Hospice Run has not been simple. Just four years ago, after undergoing knee surgery, he was told he would never run again. But inspired by the London Marathon this April and driven by his commitment to support Hospice in the Weald, Max has defied the odds.

Starting with a training plan to join his friends at their local Parkrun, he’s now in a position to take on our Hospice Run 10k!

This Summer, while working as a doctor at his local hospice in Cambridgeshire, Max will be running in memory of Pam — and in honour of the care that made her final days so meaningful. “I want to give back and help others as much as I can,” he says.

Max runs not only for Pam, but for every family who he believes deserve the same compassion, dignity, and support that his family received at such a difficult time.

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Max’s story: ‘The Hospice was our family’

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