Martine is a regular member of our Day Stay programme or as she calls it a “coffee group”. Every Wednesday, patients come to Hospice for a chat, a laugh, maybe an activity and of course, the morning teas donated by local businesses!
“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. The volunteers are so friendly and they ring us every Tuesday to remind us to come… and the morning teas are so yum!”
In 2012, Martine was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has had surgery and numerous courses of chemotherapy.
Whilst her illness is life-limiting, that doesn’t stop Martine. She’s travelled all over New Zealand in the last few years from Cape Reinga to Dunedin. She lives with her mum, two sons, daughter, their partners and grandchildren too.
Martine is undeniably a positive person, counting herself amongst the lucky ones. “I’m lucky because I only have one thing. Other people have multiple things or illness.”
“I am a positive, bubbly person but I have my moments too. Lots of people at the coffee group are that way. I have a bad day, get over it and tomorrow is another day”.
Martine encourages anyone who is part of Hospice or has a life-limiting illness to come along to Day Stay. “It is for everybody, not just cancer patients, any type of illness. No matter what’s wrong with you, whether it be cancer or whatever, come along and give it a go. Male or female. I didn’t think I was sick enough, not realising you don’t have to be that sick”.
Martine passed away on the 22nd February 2019
Day Stay is available for any Hospice patients every Wednesday morning at 10am at Rotorua Community Hospice. Please get in touch with us on 07 343 6591 if you would like to come along.