By his daughter Anne
At the age of 94 and living with Mum in the home they loved in Pembroke Dock, my Dad started to feel unwell. He was naturally stoical, ‘It’s to be expected at my age’, he’d say. But this seemed different. He had little energy and found it difficult even to get out of bed. Mum, at 89, didn’t have the strength to help him move. We realised he was close to the end of his life and we needed help. So, we got in touch with the Paul Sartori Foundation.
The Hospice at Home quickly delivered a hospital bed for Dad to make it easier for carers to help him wash and change. That made a huge difference. Dad was happy in his new bed. Although he nearly drove me crazy by pressing all the buttons to adjust the tilt of the bed – just because he could!
Without the bed, Dad would have had to go into hospital – something none of us wanted. He loved his home and because of the Paul Sartori, he was able to stay there, happy in his own surroundings with visits from family and friends.
The days went on and Dad’s condition became worse. Staying overnight to give Mum a break, I’d snatch moments of sleep between the hours I kept him company. But it was impossible to relax as I always had one ear open for Dad.
After 4 days of very little sleep, I was exhausted but when they heard, the Paul Sartori immediately organised a nurse to do a night shift for us. Their wonderful nurse arrived and took over for the night. Mum and I slept well, safe in the knowledge that she was there to care for Dad and give him any help he needed. We were so grateful for those desperately needed hours of rest.
Just two days later, Dad passed away peacefully. I was grateful to have had a good night’s sleep as there was so much to be done. Without it, I’m not sure I would have managed.
Gan ei ferch Anne
Yn 94 oed ac yn byw gyda Mam yn y cartref roedden nhw’n ei garu yn Noc Penfro, dechreuodd fy Nhad deimlo’n sâl. Roedd e’n naturiol yn stoical, ‘Mae i’w ddisgwyl yn fy oedran i’, byddai’n dweud. Ond roedd hyn yn edrych yn wahanol. Nid oedd ganddo lawer o egni ac roedd yn ei chael hi’n anodd hyd yn oed codi o’r gwely. Doedd gan Mam, yn 89 oed, ddim nerth i’w helpu i symud. Fe wnaethon ni sylweddoli ei fod yn agos at ddiwedd ei oes ac roedd angen help arnom ni. Felly, cysylltom â Sefydliad Paul Sartori.
Gwnaeth yr Hosbis Gartref ddarparu gwely ysbyty i Dad yn gyflym i’w gwneud hi’n haws i ofalwyr ei helpu i ymolchi a newid. Fe wnaeth hynny gwahaniaeth enfawr. Roedd Dad yn hapus yn ei wely newydd. Er ei fod bron a’m gyrru yn wallgof trwy bwyso’r botymau i gyd i addasu tilt y gwely – dim ond am ei fod yn gallu!
Heb y gwely, byddai Dad wedi gorfod mynd i’r ysbyty – rhywbeth nad oedd yr un ohonom ei eisiau. Roedd yn caru ei gartref ac oherwydd Paul Sartori, llwyddodd i aros yno, yn hapus yn ei amgylchoedd ei hun gydag ambell i ymweliadau gan deulu a ffrindiau.
Wrth i’r dyddiau mynd ymlaen, daeth cyflwr Dad yn waeth. Yn aros dros nos i roi seibiant i Mam, byddwn i’n cipio eiliadau o gwsg rhwng yr oriau roeddwn i’n ei gadw yn gwmni. Ond roedd hi’n amhosib ymlacio gan fod gen i un glust wastad ar agor i Dad.
Ar ôl 4 diwrnod o ychydig iawn o gwsg, roeddwn i wedi blino’n lân ond, pan glywsant, trefnodd Paul Sartori nyrs ar unwaith i wneud shifft nos i ni. Cyrhaeddodd eu nyrs hyfryd a chymryd drosodd am y noson. Cysgodd Mam a fi’n dda, yn saff o wybod ei bod hi yno i ofalu am Dad a rhoi unrhyw help oedd ei angen arno. Roeddem yn ddiolchgar iawn am yr oriau gorffwys hynny yr oedd eu hangen yn daer.
Dau ddiwrnod yn ddiweddarach, bu farw Dad yn heddychlon. Roeddwn yn ddiolchgar fy mod wedi cael noson dda o gwsg gan fod cymaint i’w wneud. Hebddo, nid wyf yn siŵr y byddwn wedi ymdopi.
Anne kindly shared her family’s story as part of our Legacy Campaign. To learn more about how leaving a gift in your will can help families like Anne’s, and, indeed like yours, please visit our Legacy Page here.