Resilience and Courage: Tracey Evans’ Journey and the Vital Support of Nightingale House Hospice

Tracey Evans’ journey stands as a shining example of resilience in the face of life’s trials. Starting from her early experiences in patient care as a hospital nurse to her battle with breast cancer, Tracey’s story radiates determination and courage.

Initially drawn to hands-on patient care, Tracey’s path veered from the conventional nursing route. Instead, she found comfort in offering complementary services, like providing hair and nail care to patients.

“I guess I was pretty lucky back then because I got to do complementary therapy alongside my regular nursing duties. We had enough staff, so it worked out well.”

A new path led her to work with preschoolers with special needs, a dream she wholeheartedly realised. However, life took an unexpected turn with a breast cancer diagnosis. Leveraging her background in delivering tough news, Tracey recognised the signs and empathised with the impact on her loved ones.

Navigating this arduous journey was no small feat. Her family grappled with the dual challenge of supporting her through treatments while also tending to her son’s educational needs. Despite these formidable obstacles, Nightingale House Hospice emerged as a sanctuary, introduced to her by compassionate district nurses.

“It almost felt like when I was here, you’re in this sort of cocoon. So, it’s like they’re wrapping you up with a blanket around your shoulders. It was really comforting; that’s the only way I can describe it. Because that was the feeling I got from everybody here who was looking after me. It was restorative and it benefited me in many ways… it was a really scary time.”

Tracey’s narrative underscores the vital role that hospices play in providing essential support during challenging times. Her wise words should encourage people to embrace support and confront obstacles with newfound determination.

“You do have to think about positives when times are hard going, and it gets really tough. You need to see the light. There’s got to be some sort of glimmer somewhere. And I think if there is, Nightingale House and other hospice’s help people to see that glimmer.”

Through her journey, Tracey Evans reminds us that challenges can be avenues for growth, and determination is a choice we can all embrace.

Nightingale House Hospice is an independent hospice and a registered charity (number 1035600)
The hospice has been looking at other ways to keep their finances afloat during this difficult time. Most of their running costs are met through fundraising and other channels of income generation that includes its on-site café and retail outlets that make a significant contribution towards maintaining services for those with life-limiting illnesses within palliative care.
Our services are completely free-of-charge, to patients and their families across our catchment area stretching from Wrexham, Flintshire and East Denbighshire to Barmouth and the border towns including Oswestry and Whitchurch.
Nightingale House hospice services are available to everyone in its’ catchment area living with a life limiting illness.
It costs £4,587,434 each year to run Nightingale House Hospice.
That’s equivalent to:
£382,286 per month
£88,220 per week
or… £12,568 per day