Two and a half years ago, well known Taranaki couple Marion and John Hislop headed off to their GP for their annual warrant of fitness medical check. The couple fitted it in as they were preparing to head off to Fiji for a two week holiday. But when the tests came back, their GP spotted Marion’s blood test had thrown up a red flag which required further scrutiny.
“We always had out annual medical in July to make sure we were healthy and there were no underlying things that needed looking at,” John, the former Okato pharmacist, recalls. “But the GP was worried about Marion’s bloods.”
The GP told the couple, John now aged 76, and Marion 72, that they should go ahead and enjoy their holiday in the sun. The more in-depth investigations could await their return.
Once home, the scan that followed revealed one kidney was five times the size of the other. Marion was diagnosed with renal cancer. The medical team was amazed she had no symptoms – and no pain.
An operation followed which embolized (killed) the diseased kidney. Fortunately, Marion’s other kidney was still operating adequately. A tough regime of three months’ chemotherapy followed.
“It was a very aggressive chemical.” John says.
“I really was sick, but they decided to hit it hard to start with,” Marion says. “I was a big woman but I lost weight, was vomiting and wasn’t eating. I went down to 37 kgs. But it did its job and my appetite is back.”
Marion, a former dental nurse, and John can’t speak highly enough of the medical and support service they are receiving from hospice and the community.
Marion is now housebound but they have found hospice nurses only a phone call away.
“Marion had a couple of falls but within five minutes two hospice nurses arrived and got the ambulance to take her up to the hospital,” John says.
“We call them Joy Germs,” Marion says with a smile. “They are very supportive. They come and put dressings on my tail bone and when I was constipated they dealt with that very well.”
Because she is often sitting in the lounge so she can look out over the valley and up to Crown Hill from their Ngamotu Road, New Plymouth, home, hospice has provided her with a super-soft Neoprene cushion which she loves. It is one of several items of equipment which makes life easier.
Recently she was helped to travel to the hospice for a fortnight of respite care and a general review. “Four doctors got together and reduced my medication. That was a big thing.” While there, a nutritionist came to advise her on food.
“They are wonderful up there. They are very kind to me.”
As Marion’s primary caregiver, John agrees. “I value and appreciate the service they provide. The hospice nurses seem to be available whenever we need them.”
As a long-standing Okato Lions member John is gratified that the group’s fund-raising efforts over the years have supported the hospice by purchasing medical beds.
Another hospice service he strongly recommends to all caregivers is the series of hour-long free seminars which outline the many hospice and community services available to families.
He advises carers not to wait but to go to the seminars as soon as the diagnosis is made. He was sad that during the seminars he attended, two of the patients died before their carer was able to take full advantage of the invaluable information they contain along with the knowledge of all the practical equipment on offer.
John comes in for his own acclaim. Marion says she is deeply appreciative of all her husband does for her. “I’m very lucky. He is very good to me.”