“I felt comforted from the very beginning”: Adriana’s time at St Christopher’s
Adriana moved to the UK from Romania around twenty years ago, first working as a nanny before returning to her original profession as an English teacher. She spent more than a decade teaching in primary schools and built a life in North London before settling in Bromley with her partner. Although she describes her life here as beautiful, her health had always been a challenge.
In late 2023, after months of symptoms and delays, Adriana was diagnosed at Princess Royal University Hospital with advanced ovarian cancer that had already spread. Until that moment, she had never heard of St Christopher’s Hospice. When the hospital team suggested it, she felt both overwhelmed and relieved, she knew she could no longer manage at home, and the strain on her partner would have been too great.
Adriana arrived at St Christopher’s in January. She says: “from the very beginning, I felt comforted by the clarity and openness of the staff. Everything was explained carefully, and I felt able to ask questions without hesitation.” She remembers feeling reassured by the transparency and communication at a time when her world had become frighteningly uncertain.
Shortly after arriving, she experienced a severe seizure that left her confused and unable to recall several weeks. When she regained awareness, she found herself surrounded by staff who were patient, gentle and endlessly supportive. She says, “ I remember being impressed that everyone seemed genuinely happy to come to work, and that no request was ever too much.” Even when she was at her weakest, unable to move easily, she felt cared for with extraordinary patience and kindness.
As she recovered some strength, Adriana began taking part in activities at the hospice. She attended art therapy, despite doubting she could hold a paintbrush, and was surprised by how much she enjoyed it. She also took part in Namaste sessions, which she found calming and grounding. She speaks warmly of the teams who ran these sessions, describing them as amazing.
Her partner and sister were able to stay overnight during the most worrying periods, something that meant a great deal to her. She felt that the hospice cared not only for her but for the people she loved. They were checked on, supported and included, which she says made an enormous difference. Knowing her partner had help and reassurance eased some of the emotional weight she carried.
Adriana describes the staff team as “ a perfectly assembled jigsaw puzzle, different personalities, all fitting together to create something whole and beautiful. “ She felt that every person she met had been chosen with care, and that their warmth and dedication created an atmosphere unlike anything she had experienced before.
As her discharge approached, Adriana felt sadness about leaving. She was preparing to move to a nursing home in Sundridge Park, close to Bromley, but she admitted openly that she would have stayed at St Christopher’s if she could. The people, she said, would be missed dearly.
Despite her declining health, her weight had dropped dramatically from 67kg to 42kg, Adriana remained determined to give back. She asked friends and former colleagues not to send flowers, which she found too closely associated with funerals, but instead to donate to St Christopher’s. She wanted others to benefit from the same care and compassion she had received.
Reflecting on her time at the hospice, Adriana expressed deep gratitude. She felt safe, supported and understood. She felt her loved ones were cared for too. And she felt that, in one of the most difficult chapters of her life, she had found a place filled with kindness.
Adriana said a massive thank you to everyone at St Christopher’s. She said she could not be more grateful that she came to know this place and the people who work within it.
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