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Rotorua Community Hospice Stories

Stories of the individuals who have touched our lives.

This is Dexter the Dog's story

Dexter the dog lives a few hundred metres away from Ferguson Home – a retirement community in Rotorua.

Dexter the dog lives a few hundred metres away from an Aged Residential Care Facility in Rotorua, where the Hospice team was supporting a patient.

Dexter’s owner was visiting her terminally ill mum at the Aged Residential Care Facility and Dexter would come along for the walk and the visit. Soon, they noticed Dexter would go missing from home every day.

He was sneaking out of the house, running the couple of 100m around the corner, through the automatic doors and into the room to lay beside the bed.

Even when she passed away, Dexter continued to visit in the days and weeks after, coming through the automatic doors to say hello.

We think Dexter is pretty special!

More stories from Rotorua Community Hospice

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This is Merv & Meretaka's story

“For us it was about quality of life for as long as we could keep him with us, and Hospice helped us with that.”

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This is Ian & Andrea's story

“A dying person’s spiritual beliefs are a guiding compass and Hospice nurses recognise, listen, and support the concepts of each individual’s journey”

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This is Frances' story

Diagnosed with lung cancer nine years ago and having been with Rotorua Hospice for 18 months, Frances epitomises the hospice way of living every moment in whatever way is important to you.

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This is Brendan's story

“Hospice didn’t come into our lives as the end of the road but rather as another tool to provide Dad and all of the family with the support to help fight his cancer.”

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This is Monica's story

It’s not just relatives she is classing as family; it is the team at Rotorua Hospice.

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This is Michael's story

Michael remained incredibly positive throughout his journey. When the cancer returned Michael said, “Don’t worry mum, I’ve already had a good life”. Those words from a 19 year old were startling and inspirational.

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This is Tom & Avis' story

Having only moved to Rotorua two years ago from a lifestyle block, the Rotorua Hospice team has become Tom and Avis’ family.

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This is Kelly's story

Without Hospice, we wouldn’t have been able to have it the way it was. Being at home was so important to Mum and to Tony and I. Hospice is the only thing that allowed that.

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This is Barbara's story

Don’t ever be frightened to ring Hospice and get support. They are wonderful. It’s not necessarily the end – they can help. The thing is when you’re a patient or a friend of a patient you don’t know how to deal with it. They do. That’s why I would do anything for Hospice.

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This is Betty's story

“Caring for Mum in those final weeks with the support of Rotorua Hospice was an absolute privilege.”

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This is Martine's story

I really benefit from the coffee mornings. We don’t talk about our cancer or our illness – although we did at the start – we talk about everything. I really enjoy it.

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This is Denise & Tahae's story

In the words of their daughter, Sherry Tait… Words will never do our gratitude justice. Eight months ago my life changed, we prepared to lose both of our parents.

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This is Murray's story

“The Hospice nurses have a very strong patient focus. The care and support we received was amazing”.

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This is Dexter the Dog's story

Dexter the dog lives a few hundred metres away from Ferguson Home – a retirement community in Rotorua.

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This is Helen's story

“You have to be going through it to really appreciate what they do”

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This is Martine's story

I really benefit from the coffee mornings. We don’t talk about our cancer or our illness – although we did at the start – we talk about everything. I really enjoy it.

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Rotorua Community Hospice Stories

Stories of the individuals who have touched our lives.