Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
25 happy years of helping at hospice
A DU N DE E woma n has ref lected on 25 years of helping people live out their last days as comfortably as possible.
Christine McKenna has volunteered at NHS Tayside’s Roxburghe House hospice since 1995.
As part of National Volunteers’ Week 2020, she has decided to share her story.
Speaking to the Tele Christine, who turns 77 this year, said: “I go to Roxburghe House to arrange patients’ flowers, tidy them up and change over the water.
“I do the arrangements for the chapel and, if there is enough, for the front desk as well.
“The voluntary service had got in touch with the floral art club members to see if they could go to Roxburghe House to do the flower arrangements on a regular basis, and in 1995 I said I would do it – and I have been doing it ever since.
“I enjoy it and I get a great deal of fulfilment. It makes you realise how lucky you are.
“When I see the patients I say to myself ‘what do I have to moan about?’
“The patients really appreciate the work we do, whenever I ask if they need their water changed they always say ‘thank you so much’.
“To be able to do something for people when they are not feeling well really cheers them up.”
Christine trained as a nurse in Edinburgh back in the 1960s and said she wanted to give something back through her volunteering.
She continued: “Back then it was the job of the junior nurses to make sure all the flowers were attended to and all the vases had clean water.
“Over the years that was stopped and now it is up to volunteers.
“You don’t get flowers so much in general hospitals, but in the likes of Roxburghe House, flowers are encouraged. The patients say there is nothing nicer than someone coming to visit with a beautiful bunch of flowers.
“For the past 25 years it was been a big part of my life and I am just disappointed I can’t go in just now. I want to be there, but we’re not allowed.
“It is really sad, but I look forward positively to better things to come.
“I just felt this was a good way of giving something back and the patients are in my thoughts, I want to be able to do something to help them, even if it just something small.
“As long as I am fit and able I will continue to do it.
“I have a great desire to live until I am 102 – when I am 100 I get the royal telegram and I will need two years to go on and on about it and drive everyone mad with my card.”