Reporter Carla Green speaks to the family of Nicola Weir, who was supported by the Otago Community Hospice before she died of cancer last year. The Weir family are now doing their bit to help the hospice.
It was not that long ago that Nicola Weir - or Nic, as her family knew her - died.
She died of metastasised bowel cancer in the care of the Otago Community Hospice on March 27 last year, her husband Milton Weir said. She was 56.
Her death is recent enough that memories of Mrs Weir are still fresh - and raw - in the minds of her husband, her son Kyle and his fiancee Jessica Down.
When Mrs Weir was first diagnosed, she and Mr Weir, a former Dunedin detective, were running Propertyscouts together.
Mrs Weir continued to work for some time, and gave talks to hospice staff ''from the perspective of a terminally ill person'', Mr Weir said.
Throughout her treatment, she received support care from the hospice while living at the family home in Maori Hill, he said.
''As Nicola's health deteriorated, we needed more and more help ... when other medical staff were unavailable. A lot of it had to do with the medication Nic was on.
''You get to a stage where you're worried about overdosing. I had to give her a lot of medication,'' he said.
''If the staff couldn't help you, they'd get hold of one of the doctors, and generally one of the doctors would come down and see us at home. And do whatever needed to be done.''
When her condition worsened, Mrs Weir moved into the hospice for 24-hour care.
''By the time Nic got to the hospice, she couldn't walk, so she was in a wheelchair,'' Mr Weir said.
Ms Down said Mrs Weir's room at the hospice, ''was like a home''.
Before Mrs Weir went into the hospice, Ms Down ''didn't really have positive thoughts about what a hospice was''.
''I thought it would be quite sad and gloomy and not a nice environment. But they've worked so hard to foster a really positive and happy environment there, which I didn't really expect.''
In fact, the younger Mr Weir and Ms Down had a ''semi-engagement party'' there, he said.
''You can enjoy yourself, as much as you can in a place like that, and that's what they've set it up for.''
Mr Weir sen said hospice staff left an impression on him.
''The people at the hospice have a fantastic understanding of ... what you're going through,'' he said.
''They've seen it all before, they'll see it all again. And they can be really supportive, whereas people who haven't been through that, or don't know what you're going through, can't offer the support that the hospice staff can.''
After Mrs Weir died, her husband decided to support the hospice financially ''any way I can, basically'', he said.
One way he does that is through Propertyscouts.
''We look after hundreds of properties in Dunedin, so that gives me the potential to hit up hundreds of landlords who own rental properties, to try to get them to donate to the hospice,'' he said.
''Once a year, we collect money off them ... We take a donation from them and we match that dollar for dollar, and give that to the hospice.''
About half of the landlords participated, Mr Weir said.
''This year, we're hoping to involve tenants, as well.''
Ms Down estimated they raised about $8000 for the hospice last year.
Many Propertyscouts clients knew the reason for Mr Weir's enthusiasm for the hospice, because they knew Mrs Weir when she worked at Propertyscouts.
But, Mr Weir said, he tended not to tell those who did not know.
''I don't labour it. I just talk about the hospice being a good local charity to support. I don't labour the more personal stuff.''
HELP OTAGO COMMUNITY HOSPICE
You can help raise the $430,000 needed so the Otago Community Hospice can continue to deliver its free service by:
• Giving at www.otagohospice.co.nz/donation/
• Texting the word OTAGO to:
• 7003 to give $3
• 7005 to give $5
• 7010 to give $10
• Sending a cheque to Otago Community Hospice (PO Box 8002, Dunedin, 9041)
• Organising and running an event during Hospice Awareness Week, May 18-24 (or at a time that suits)
