Such earth-shattering news left me adrift and struggling to cope with terrible anxiety. I live alone and am supported by good friends, but they too are dealing with the shock and have their own lives.

I was referred to the hospice by my palliative care nurse specialist and attending day hospice once a fortnight has been a transformative experience. I have been loved, supported and cared for physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

I honestly do not know how I would have got through the last couple of years without the amazing team of (mainly) volunteers who make the hospice a place where it is safe to be vulnerable.

They understand. They know when you need to talk and when you don’t. They respect boundaries, but I know I am never alone when I am there.

It is a wonderful reflection of the hospice that the team often say that they get as much out of being there as we do. The atmosphere of the place is like a gentle hug.

One of the many benefits is being able to get to know others in a similar position, as they more than anyone know how it feels. Family, carers and friends can benefit too, having a break from their role and receiving the same loving care and access to therapies and relaxation.

I love that it is entirely down to me as to how the day looks when I attend. I can have a therapy, take part in arts and crafts, be supported to have a bath which I couldn’t do at home, wander the stunning, peaceful gardens, sit in the roundhouse and listen to the birds, or just have a nap. There is sometimes music or poetry, and there is always good food!

I feel so very grateful that such an awesome place is available to me and that it never costs a penny for us as users. It is a very sad situation that Skanda Vale Hospice is the only hospice service available in all of West Wales and that it is entirely dependent upon donations to survive. I feel very strongly that everyone should be able, as their website says, to “live well and die well”.

The local community is very fortunate to be able to access this service. In fact the broader community is, as Skanda Vale Hospice does not believe that your postcode should dictate whether those with life-limiting illnesses can receive compassionate care to make these days easier to manage.

The support the hospice receives from the local community goes to show how appreciated they are. Fundraisers, fetes, coffee mornings, opportunities to talk about death and dying in a safe space are always so well received and attended.