Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient's emotional reunion with her horse and pet dogs

After spending four weeks in hospital, Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient Jan Holman was missing her King Charles spaniels Monty and Rowley deeply, as well as her horse Bob.

Jan's husband of 46 years, Dennis, said he never imagined it would be possible for Bob to pay a visit.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient Jan Holman was able to see her King Charles spaniels and her horse one more time.

But the Backford hospice was able to go the extra mile and, sure enough, the 15.2 piebald Cob arrived at the hospice grounds.

Even though Jan wasn’t able to get out of bed, she was so excited to have the chance to see Bob one more time.

The nurses wheeled her bed to the patio doors and the team from Thornleigh Park Farm Stables, where Bob is in livery, walked him into the hospice courtyard for a very emotional reunion between horse and rider.

Bob put his head through the doors and nuzzled Jan’s neck and lap and thoroughly enjoyed his treats of carrots, bananas and apples. Jan’s face lit up as soon as she saw Bob.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient Jan Holman was able to see her King Charles spaniels and her horse one more time.

Jan said: “I just can’t believe what the staff here at the hospice have done for me. Until a few weeks ago I was still riding Bob every day and he is such an important part of my life, and I have missed him so much.

"I knew that arranging for my dogs to visit was possible as we had a neighbour who was a patient at the hospice a few years ago and we were allowed to bring the dogs to visit her, but I just didn’t expect that they would ever be able to give me the chance to see Bob one more time.”

Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient Jan Holman was able to see her King Charles spaniels and her horse one more time.

Jan’s husband Dennis, said: “It was just such a relief once Jan was moved from the hospital to the hospice in Chester and we were able to have named visitors who could come and see Jan regularly, however we never imagined that we would be able to include our dogs Monty and Rowley and Jan’s horse Bob on the visiting list.”

The Hospice of the Good shepherd, posting the news on its Facebook page, wrote: "The ethos of hospice care is not just about caring for the clinical needs of our patients but also looking after their emotional and spiritual needs as well. It’s about making a difference to our patients and their families in whatever way we can."

Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient Jan Holman was able to see her King Charles spaniels and her horse one more time.

As with so many charities, the hospice is currently facing difficult financial times due to the continuing impact of coronavirus and is having to find new and innovative ways to raise funds to ensure the hospice can continue to deliver its essential end of life care to the community.

The hospice, which is not part of the NHS, receives only 25 per cent of its income from government funding meaning it has to raise just over £3 million each year from donations, fundraising events and charity shops.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd patient Jan Holman was able to see her King Charles spaniels and her horse one more time.

For over 30 years, the Hospice of the Good Shepherd has provided end of life care to patients living with life limiting conditions from Chester, West Cheshire and Ellesmere Port.

It provides a 10 bedded Inpatient unit, a Living Well Centre which provides day support to help patients maintain their independence and to stay at home longer as well as bereavement support for both adults and children across the catchment area whether or not the death of their loved one was connected to the hospice.