Grief book set to aid hospice

ROWCROFT Hospice supporter Tom Woolner, who turned to writing after the death of his wife, will be donating all the profits from his self-published book to the Torquay hospice.

Tom, 49 and from Teignmouth, felt a special need to give back to Rowcroft after his wife Katherine was cared for there in her final days.

He has shared his personal experience and journey through grief in the book Let’s Talk About Grief & Loss: A discussion of the aspects commonly experienced yet rarely discussed.

He said: “Rowcroft Hospice Inpatient Unit staff, Hospice at Home and the Community Team provided a bespoke package of care in a friendly and understanding environment.

“With significant effort they enabled my wife to end her final days at home as was her wish, surrounded by her loving family, in peace with dignity. That was something very special indeed and to ‘give back’ to them was not a difficult choice for me. To help in any small way possible to enable them to continue their amazing work and assist others was a simple decision.”

Tom’s own experience of grief and loss was the motivating force behind his book.

He went on: “I read a lot after losing my wife. I guess I was looking for answers and I found a shared pain and experiences associated with grief. I was not alone.

“What I read, and what I discovered talking to others, helped me to normalise the experience and whilst this didn’t change what had happened or reduce the pain in any way, it did bring some comfort.

“I wanted to share this with others and hence why I wrote my book.

“It is important to recognise that the book is not a road map to grief. caption here

“My book draws on my own experience of grief and loss whilst referencing or quoting things I found really helpful and wanted to share.

“If I can help others suffering a loss, in any

Tom Woolner and Mark Hawkins from Rowcroft small way, then I will feel a great sense of achievement. If they are then able to pass that help on to others then, well, what a wonderful thing.

“The experience of grief is so rarely discussed, we just don’t want to go there or, feel too uncomfortable doing so thus leaving people feeling isolated and lonely at what was already a very traumatic time. My book aims to address this.

“Rowcroft is a special charity to me because very few services locally are able to provide light at a very dark time in the way they did. Rowcroft respects and understands individual needs and treats people with dignity, not a patient or a number but as a person.

“They felt like a family to me. The needs of all concerned are considered including the partner and family members and this is important. Without them it would not have been possible to meet my wife’s final wishes. You cannot place a price on that and this will remain with me forever.”

All profits from the book will be going to support Rowcroft Hospice continue its work. The book can be purchased at www.griefandloss.me