Hospiscare staff touched by poem

Exeter Hospiscare staff have been touched by a beautiful poem written about them by a patient’s 12-year-old granddaughter. Josie Sanders wrote the poem as a way of coping with her grief after her beloved Granddad, Geoff Fletcher, 80, spent his last few days at the city hospice, run by local charity Exeter Hospiscare. Just six weeks earlier he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. Geoff’s family was overwhelmed by the care they all received at Searle House Hospice and Josie wrote about this in her poem entitled: Hos-Peace-Care. “I found it easier to express my feelings in a poem rather than trying to speak them,” said Josie. “Although some lines were difficult to write, others came a lot easier to me - it took me a while to get the tempo and the words. I wanted to capture the peace we all felt at the hospice.” Josie inherited her grandfather’s gift and love of poetry, describing him as the “master of silly, fun, poems.” Geoff’s daughter, Josie’s mum, Jenny Sanders said: “Dad fell in love with the place and the people; nothing was ever too much trouble for anyone. He had the best last week he could possibly have had. “When we arrived at the hospice we could finally take a deep breath and relax. Dad loved watching the birds and squirrels in the garden and we knew he was safe here. It was so peaceful and relaxing there, which is where the name for the poem, Hos-peace-care came from.” Josie’s poem has touched the hearts of many Hospiscare staff and a nurse keeps the framed poem on her desk. Josie, who lives at Bow, near Crediton, has also raised money for Hospiscare at her school, St Wilfrid’s in Exeter. HOS-PEACE-CARE It’s like a slice of heaven When you find yourself in hell The dying given dignity The living treated well. In a world fraught with emotion It’s a place for finding peace A place of calm and loving Where the fears you’ve had can cease It’s quiet, not depressing Like a haven in a storm Thou’ focused on the dying Its atmosphere’s still warm When at the edge of reason When life’s its most unfair Be thankful and be grateful Thank God for Hospiscare Josie Sanders aged 12