As Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal draws to an end, York nurse Caroline Leslie talks through her invaluable work. Kate Liptrot reports.

AS most people are getting ready to go to bed, Caroline Leslie is heading out into the dark to work.

A Marie Curie nurse, Caroline is one of a team of nurses in the York area who provide care for patients with terminal illnesses in the comfort of their own homes.

She leaves her home in Osbaldwick with a flask of soup made by her husband, reaches the patient's house at 10pm and works through until 7am.

The 49-year-old has been known to quietly begin doing press ups and star jumps at 4am as she works to stay alert during her night shifts.

“No two nights are the same," she said, "I provide medical care to patients with various illnesses including cancer, motor neurone disease, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. My priority is to ensure my patient is comfortable and as pain-free as possible throughout the night. I also offer reassurance, emotional and practical support to my patient and their families.

"My visits always begin with a handshake but end with a hug.

"Recently I cared for a lady who asked her blind husband to make scones – with little appetite, that’s all she fancied for breakfast the following morning. Though he was happy to muddle through, I baked during the night while they both slept. I have also helped out with dog walking, paint nails and doing facials. It’s amazing how simple tasks can make such a difference.”

The mum-of-two has worked in the caring industry since the age of 18. It was back in 2011, when she was caring for a gentleman with a learning disability, that she noticed an advert in The Press for Marie Curie nurses which read “Can you fill this uniform?”

“I knew immediately that I would like to become a Marie Curie nurse and after a three-month recruitment process I was offered the job," Caroline said, "To this day, I have never looked back. It’s such a worthy cause and I get an immense amount of job satisfaction. Caring for patients at such a difficult time in their lives is so rewarding and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people along the way.”

Caroline returns home from her night shift at around 8am and provides the district nursing team and Marie Curie Referral Centre with details of any changes in her patient’s symptoms or condition. She then promptly sets about doing her own chores and housework before showering, snacking on scrambled eggs on toast and heading to bed at 10am.

She rises at 5pm and breakfasts on porridge and blueberries before heading off to the gym.

Not only is Caroline a Marie Curie nurse, but she also regularly volunteers for the Charity in her limited spare time.

“Each March, I help out with the Great Daffodil Appeal collections where possible and two years ago I delivered over 100 boxes of Daffodil pins to local shops," she said, "And last year, I had the privilege of being involved in the Tour De France. I was lucky enough to be chosen to join the Marie Curie yellow tour caravan which travelled from York to London over three days.

"My role was to wave to and high five the hordes of spectators up and down the country and hand out Marie Curie wrist bands with text to donate money details.

"Though it was gruelling (wake up calls at 5am and finishing times of 10pm – in stark contrast to my usual working hours) it was a fantastic experience that I will never forget. Hearing spectators chanting ‘Marie Curie we love you’ was incredible. The generosity and support from total strangers was truly heart-warming.”

Caroline said she considers her job a privilege. “Working for Marie Curie and helping to care for local people is incredibly rewarding and I love my job. But it’s thanks to the support of volunteers and generosity of members of the public that enables the charity to provide nursing care to people with terminal illnesses in the comfort of their own homes".

- Each year during March, millions of people show their support for the Great Daffodil Appeal by donating, or wearing a daffodil pin. Anyone who is keen to help with fundraising in York and North Yorkshire should call 01904 755260 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk

 

York Press:
Anna Brabbs volunteering for Marie Curie Cancer Care

"Their dedication and hard work gave my Dad peace of mind"

WHEN Anna Brabbs' father became seriously ill, Marie Curie nurses gave invaluable support to him and his whole family.

She has been involved with fundraising for the charity since the death of her father Chris Blood, who passed away just before Christmas 2013.

“During the last three weeks of my Dad’s life, Marie Curie nurses provided overnight care so that he could remain in his own home," Anna said, "Their calming influence and empathy really helped the whole family at such an emotional time and we will always be grateful. The care we all received was amazing.

"For us, having someone to take control was a great comfort and just having company from an outsider was a real boost. More importantly, for Dad, their dedication and hard work helped give him peace of mind.

"He was keen to get the house in order and the nurses never tired of helping him achieve this goal – even down to repositioning a rug that he felt was out of place – nothing was too much trouble. He was an avid trumpet player so the nurses spent many hours talking to him while listening to music.”

Caroline Leslie, helped care for Anna’s father and was there when he sadly passed away.

“Caroline is an inspiration and her dedication and boundless energy is remarkable," Anna said, "She was with us when Dad passed away at 6am but despite having worked through the night, she stayed with us all morning, helping to make the necessary arrangements and serving endless cups of tea.”


"We look forward to seeing her immensely"

FOR Cora and Frank Hewson, Caroline's arrival at their home in Market Weighton brightens up their day.

Frank, 84, was taken ill last Christmas while on holiday and, after an emergency operation, doctors sadly delivered the news that the cancer was so advanced, little could be done.

District nurses put Cora in touch with Marie Curie and when Frank was released from hospital in January, processes were put in place to support the couple in the comfort of their own home.

Cora said: “I’ve been in and out of hospital myself over the last year so am not well enough to look after Frank full time. Caroline always arrives with a warm smile at 10pm and we look forward to seeing her immensely.

"Understandably, in the early days my husband was very anxious about his condition and Caroline has sat with him for hours on end during the night, talking to him and providing much needed reassurance. Over the weeks they’ve built up a real rapport which is incredibly important at such a difficult time.

"As well as providing the necessary medical care for Frank, Caroline goes above and beyond the call of duty. Just this week I got up one morning to find she’d done all my ironing during the night. She always makes sure the kitchen is spotless and regularly empties the bins. She left this morning with a smile and a hug."


Fact file

• During 2013/2014, the £1,699,135 funds raised in Yorkshire supported 185 Marie Curie nurses and helped care for 3,666 patients.

• Every £20 raised provides one hour of Marie Curie nursing care.

• Every five minutes someone in the UK dies without the care they need at the end of their life.

• Research shows that when faced with illness, 63% of people would want to die in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded loved ones. Marie Curie nurses make this possible.

• There are 2000 Marie Curie Nurses working across the UK, caring for terminally ill people in their own homes.