Rachel was R’s designated Clinical Nurse Specialist from day 1 of his care. She first met us as a couple when R was unable to swallow any fluid due to his tumour. She ensured he was admitted the day after he had been sent home from A&E when he was suffering from dehydration and malnutrition. She coordinated with the nurses on the Mary Garth ward. He had an NG feeding tube fitted by the nurse, x-rays performed, and feeds started as soon as he arrived on the ward.

He was aware he had oesophageal cancer after his gastroscopy and CT scan, but no one, until Rachel had told us the extent of the cancer, but she took it upon herself to sit and take time with us to explain the nature of his cancer and the extent of the spread to us. She spent the afternoon sitting, listening and explaining the diagnosis. She had all the time in the world to allow us both to ask her as many questions as we liked. Nothing was too much trouble. That was just the start of her journey with us.

She was there to support and push procedures through when R deteriorated. Ensuring he got the best possible care for a horrendously debilitating illness. When he needed a stent fitted, she ensured he was referred, and the procedure was performed as quickly as possible. Even when the outcome wasn’t as we hoped, and chemotherapy was postponed, because R was unable to take tablets, and he needed a PICC line inserted. Rachel made sure we didn’t wait long for that to happen. The following week, he was able to have his first session of chemotherapy.

During this whole time, she kept us updated and supported both R and me; she treated us as a whole, including both of us in R’s care. She was my rock as well as R’s specialist nurse and gave as much time to talk to me and support me through the bad times. She laughed and cried with us, took the time to refer me as well for counselling, as she could see the pressure was affecting me as much as R.

When it was obvious that R wasn’t responding to treatment and needed his abdomen drained of fluid, she again organised and coordinated with the GI day unit for him to be admitted to have the fluid drained off, that same week, with the hope he might get another dose of chemotherapy the following Wednesday. Unfortunately, when that didn’t happen, and R’s only option was palliative care and a blood transfusion to hopefully slow down the build-up of ascites, she went above and beyond to make that happen the following day.

Rachel persisted in ringing the St Giles Hospice with calls and emails to get an urgent referral to them, so that R could fulfil his wishes to die at home with me. We were discharged from the Dorathea unit on Tuesday following the blood transfusion. In the hospital, there are bariatric wheelchairs; by this time, R was too weak to walk in and out of the unit, so Rachel told me to sit in the wheelchair as well, and she asked one of the nurses from the unit to help her push us out of the hospital, waving like a king and queen as we left. She made us feel special, even when R’s prognosis was so poor. She gave R and me some wonderful memories of his treatment.

Unfortunately, R passed away at home just 7 days after he was discharged from the cancer unit. From start to finish, his illness only lasted 3 months. He had an amazing, compassionate nurse who treated him with respect and dignity, making an extremely difficult time bearable. I cannot express my heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful care R received during his short illness.