COUPLE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE LIFE-CHANGING BENEFITS OF HOSPICE CUDDLE BED

"From the minute we could use the bed, I barely left his side and savoured every moment of physical closeness we had together."

When Lou’s husband Paul was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the couple’s world was turned upside down in an instant. But when it came to Paul’s final days, being able to use the existing cuddle bed at North Devon Hospice made all the difference to this beloved couple during their toughest times.

A Cuddle Bed is a specialist clinical bed, which has state-of-the-art features to help keep patients comfortable towards the end of life. Crucially, unlike any other clinical bed, a Cuddle Bed can extend to double the width, which allows loved ones to share the bed and retain that closeness and sense of normality, even when the rest of the world is shaken.

In July 2021, Paul was told that his cancer had returned and there was nothing that could be done. Shortly afterward, he was referred to North Devon Hospice, who scooped up him and Lou, and held the couple through this difficult time.

“While we were referred to the hospice from the point of diagnosis, Paul had his first stay on the hospice’s Bedded Unit in October 2023 to help manage his pain and get him feeling more comfortable,” said Lou. ‘During the two weeks we were there, Paul and I got to know the nurses well and they made us feel right at home – he really enjoyed their banter! We had lots of visitors including our grandchildren, who loved exploring the hospice gardens and mud kitchen with Paul – it's such an amazing and nurturing place.”

With the help of the hospice nursing teams, Paul returned home after this initial stay. Unfortunately, by the new year, he had become more unwell and returned to the hospice once again to spend his final days wrapped in care by the Bedded Unit Team. This is when the couple were introduced to the hospice’s existing cuddle bed, which had recently arrived on the unit.

“Unaware of what this new bed could do, I assumed it was just more medically advanced the the bed Paul was currently in,” added Lou. “But when I saw that it extended to almost double the size, I was delighted when the nurses asked us if we’d like to use it!”

After a very difficult few months, being able to lie down with Paul and enjoy a proper cuddle together with my husband was truly the greatest gift. From the minute we could use the bed, I barely left his side and savoured every moment of physical closeness we had together, as did our children who were also able to spend some special time with their dad thanks to the cuddle bed. I know it meant the world to them.”

For families like Lou’s, the gift of a cuddle means more than you’ll lever know. To make a donation to the Cuddle Appeal or find out more about how you can get involved, visit northdevonhospice.org.uk/cuddle today.