Horse bids adieu to dying owner at hospital
A DYING woman was granted her final wish of seeing her favourite horse one last time — after the animal was brought to visit her in her hospital bed.
Sheila Marsh, a 77-year-old grandmother of four, died of cancer just hours after the horse, named Bronwen, was brought to see her at Wigan Royal Infirmary.
Marsh, who had raised Bronwen over 25 years since she was a foal, was wheeled outside the hospital for the meeting. Their last encounter was captured in a moving photograph that shows the horse nuzzling up against her.
Gail Taylor, bereavement liaison specialist nurse at the hospital, said: “We acted on Mrs Marsh’s last wishes. Sheila gently called to Bronwen and the horse bent down tenderly and kissed her on the cheek as they said their last goodbyes.”
Marsh’s family arranged for the horse to visit her after her condition deteriorated.
Marsh, who lived in Bickershaw, Wigan, had a lifelong affiliation with horses and used to work at Haydock Park Racecourse.
Her daughter, Tina, 33, said: “She loved her horses and she loved and adored all animals. She had six horses, three dogs, three cats and other animals. Her condition did not get better and the hospital allowed us to bring Bronwen in. It was a matter of hours later that she passed away. I want to thank the hospital and all the nurses.
“I was crying my eyes out and all the nurses were crying too. She took comfort out of it. It was very important for my mom.”
Pauline Law, deputy director of nursing at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am pleased to have been able to facilitate the visit from Mrs Marsh’s horse.
“This was obviously extremely important to her and her family and we feel privileged to have been able to provide this support.
“It is absolutely right that we should pull out all the stops to ensure our patients and their families receive personalised, compassionate and dignified care at the end of their life.”
Andrew Foster, CEO of the trust, posted the image on Twitter.
He wrote: “With the family’s permission here is how @WWLNHS go the extra mile to deliver the wishes of a dying patient.” The post was widely shared and retweeted.
Gail Francis, writing on Twitter from Stratford-upon-Avon said: “What an amazing photograph. Anything that makes the last days/hours bearable should be applauded x.”— © The Daily Telegraph, London