Louise's Story

Louise Steel was diagnosed with anal cancer in February 2021, and after an intensive course of radiotherapy, chemo, and other procedures, she received the all clear.

Naturally, she and her husband Fraser were delighted, and began planning to move permanently to their home in the sun; a villa which the pair built with their own hands in Cyprus...

Then came the news in March 2023, just months before the big move, that an MRI scan had found a tumour on Louise’s liver. She spent the next 5 months in the Western General Hospital, with doctors trying a range of drugs and antibiotics to try to both slow the progress of the cancer, as well as fight an aggressive infection. The results weren’t good, with Louise unable to sleep, and suffering from vivid hallucinations. When her doctor suggested a move to the Hospice, despite the pain, the sleep deprivation and the hallucinations, Louise refused.

“I didn’t know what a Hospice was really all about, I thought you just came here for the end, and I wasn’t ready for that” she said.

Two weeks later though, and after further deterioration, Louise felt the time was right.

“I said to the doctor that I didn’t think I had long left, and I thought I should maybe head to the Hospice”.

When she arrived at Boswall Road to begin her stay as an inpatient, Louise and Fraser both expected the worst, with some family members already having voiced that they thought they might not see her again. With the agreement of her oncologist, Louise had even resigned herself to the heart-breaking conclusion that she’d be unable to see her youngest son Martin get married in a few weeks’ time.

Happily though, her condition stabilised, she was able to get some sleep, and day by day Louise regained some strength. Seeing this change, the couple redoubled their efforts to get Louise to the wedding and they began making plans with her care team and the family about how this would be possible. Plans were progressing well, but with the wedding in Biggar, and Louise now relying on a wheelchair to get around, transport remained an issue, or so they thought. Her care team got in touch with Marion, the Patient Transport Vehicle coordinator, who was only too happy to help.

When the big day came, Louise and Fraser travelled in style in the jewel in the Hospice fleet, arriving in time to sit in pride of place at the front of the ceremony. Martin was waiting when she arrived, giving his Mum a corsage, which now takes pride of place in her room in the Hospice. ‘I’d have been heartbroken to miss it. I’d have been absolutely crying my eyes out. My goal was to make it to the wedding, and I can’t say how thankful I am to have achieved it”.

The good news didn’t stop there for Louise and Fraser, with their new grandchild being born the day after the wedding and meeting their Grandma soon after! “I was absolutely thrilled to be able to hold them, and I got such a nice surprise when the hospitality team paid me a visit to drop off a wee shawl they’d knitted for the baby too”.

‘I’ve never wanted for anything, not since the moment I arrived here” said Louise. “When my mum came to visit on her 88th birthday, the kitchen made her a cake and we were allowed the family in to celebrate. Honestly, the staff, they think of everything. Sometimes you run out of words to describe what a difference they make”.