“I think hospices can help people live really well with illnesses and not many people know that. I think Muriel is a great example of helping people understand that.”
When Muriel first mentioned a brother she hadn’t seen for many years, it sparked a remarkable chain of events, one that would lead to an emotional reunion neither of them expected.
Muriel, 73, from Brockley, has been attending St Christopher’s since July 2023 after being referred by doctors at Guy’s Hospital. Living with breast cancer and following the death of her husband Joseph, she arrived at the hospice feeling withdrawn and isolated, rarely leaving home.
During a conversation about what mattered most to her, Muriel spoke about her brother, Colin, who she had lost touch with many years earlier. Recognising how important this was, the hospice’s Learning Disabilities Clinical Nurse Specialist Phoebe Mooney set out to try and find him.
Working with colleagues across organisations, Phoebe eventually tracked Colin down. After navigating the necessary processes, she discovered something extraordinary.
Colin was already part of the St Christopher’s community, volunteering at the charity’s Downham shop.
A meeting was arranged, and when the siblings were reunited, it was an emotional moment.
“I was in tears, crying on his shoulder,” Muriel recalled. “I’d missed him a lot, he was my page boy at our wedding. He couldn’t believe it was me.”
Phoebe added: “It’s huge they met up. It’s such a happy story. I honestly couldn’t believe it.”
Muriel’s journey with the hospice has been transformative in many ways. When she first started attending, staff say she was very quiet and kept to herself. Over time, with regular visits and support, she has begun to thrive.
Phoebe says: “Coming here completely changed her life. She absolutely loves it and says it gives her purpose. She’s got to know everybody so well.”
Muriel has become a familiar and much-loved presence across the hospice. She enjoys spending time in the gym, particularly on the treadmill, attending art sessions where she has painted pictures of her late husband, and taking part in Namaste sessions, often having her nails painted to match her outfit.
“Since I’ve been coming here, I feel more relaxed. I love coming here,” Muriel says.
She has also formed strong friendships with patients, staff and volunteers, often visiting the hospice’s shops to buy small gifts, from puzzles to nail varnish, to share with others.
Muriel’s story highlights the powerful impact of early referral to hospice care, particularly for people with learning disabilities.
“It shows how helpful earlier involvement can be,” Phoebe explained. “She’s so chatty and friendly now, a completely different person. She’s really come out of her shell. Everybody knows her, she always puts a smile on people’s faces.”
You may also be interested in
Sydenham garden volunteers
Former head teacher Di and her team pass gardening test with flying colours
‘A ton of treasure’ – why Rhianna loves our shops
The 24-year-old shares her favourite finds and how we've helped her to shop sustainably.
“Seeing my nan live to 92 made me want to make the most of my life. So, I started running.”
It was only the strong competitive streak inherited from his nan in whose memory he was running, and the knowledge so many people had sponsored him, that helped Beckenham born Jason Coyne complete a gruelling volcano run in The Azores for St Christopher’s.
