“Having those difficult but necessary conversations can make all the difference to a person”

In my role as a Marie Curie Information Support Nurse, I offer people safe, protected place to talk for people living with a terminal illness and those close to them. It can be extremely overwhelming when a loved one is dying and family members or friends often don't know where to start as they try to navigate all the information out there. But if they take that first step and reach out to us, I can guide them.

I've always felt it must take an enormous amount of courage to pick up the phone and ask for support. Many people don't feel comfortable reaching out to us, but that's ok because once they do, we can demystify what palliative care is about. To me, palliative care is promoting living well and looking after all aspects of care, promoting wellbeing, and boosting their reserve to enable them to face whatever treatment they may be having. Part of the care can also mean navigating many symptoms such as pain, nausea and difficulty with eating, and people can struggle in those moments so any guidance or information I can share can really help.

We often get calls about cancer, but we actually support all kinds of terminal conditions. That means motor neurone disease (MND), heart disease, kidney disease, even cognitive impairment including dementia and Alzheimer's so we want people to know that we can help anyone affected by them. It's also about the situation; It may be clinical and emotional support that is needed. We can offer emotional support to anyone experiencing a life-changing diagnosis or a bereavement, too. There's no right or wrong time to reach out, and I aim to listen and help when people are ready to talk.

Taking the stress away for families that call in about their loved ones isn't always easy, but speaking to us helps to enable them, empower them, perhaps for the very first time. It lets them ask some of the most powerful questions. What is it going to look like when my loved one dies? How can I help them? Having those difficult but necessary conversations can make all the difference. It's a privilege to be able to personalise the call for each individual.

Palliative care touches the lives of all sorts of people from different backgrounds in many different situations, so I never know where a call will take me or what support they need on the day they decide to pick up the phone. The main thing I really aspire to do as a Marie Curie Nurse is to make a difference when it matters most; listening to those individuals who perhaps do not necessarily have a voice or who may be frightened. Really listening can make a world of difference for somebody looking for help.

It's an incredible mix of people that will reach out to us , but it doesn't matter who you are, where you're from or what language you speak, you have a right to be supported. It is the most humbling experience to hear a caller open up and share everything that has caused them so much distress. They stop and say, "Thank you, you've really made a difference".