A devoted couple reunited in their final days
At Whipps Cross Hospital, a devoted couple found comfort and togetherness in their final days, thanks to the compassion of our colleagues.
A devoted couple who were married for more than 60 years were able to spend their last days together, thanks to the thoughtful actions of staff at Whipps Cross Hospital on Syringa ward.
In September 2024, 89 year old Joan, was admitted to Whipps Cross in September. Her husband followed a week later after falling ill at the nursing home where they both lived.
Paramedics said he asked if he could be taken to see his wife. And the family were astonished when, after calling Syringa Ward for an update on their mother, they were told their father had also just been admitted—and had seen her.
Their story had begun months earlier, when they both entered a different hospital in April the previous year. Although they were placed on the same ward, they had to remain apart. “Nurses reported to them about each other if they asked, but that was all,” their family recalled.
After leaving hospital, they were reunited at Forest Place Nursing Home, where they had adjoining rooms and spent a few precious months side by side again.
When Joan's health deteriorated and she returned to hospital, this time at Whipps Cross, her husband was kept updated daily. But he seemed to understand she wasn’t coming back. A week later, he too became unwell.
Their daughter said: “When we visited, he had nothing but praise for the nurses letting him see mum. Even putting their beds together in the side room so they could be together. That made them so happy. I can't express how kind that was of the staff and how caring it was giving them that time together. Thank you.”
She continued: “We knew mum was not coming out of hospital. She wasn’t given long to live, but we expected dad to go back to the home once well. Nope—they had other plans.”
He passed away just days after arriving, and his wife followed him six days later. “We think she was waiting for him,” the family said.
Reflecting on the incredible bond between their parents, the family shared: “I still pick up the phone to tell mum what’s happened today, then realise I can’t. It was sad they went together, but looking back, I think that was their wish—to always be together.”
“We have so much love for the nurses who cared for both mum and dad in their final days. Thank you to everyone that let their last days be with each other, and thank you for taking care of them for us. They were able to be with each other when it mattered most. We take comfort knowing that they are now together on their next journey."
This experience is a profound reminder of the importance of compassionate care in the final stages of life. Reuniting them in that side room wasn’t simply a operational or logistical decision; it was a gesture of love and humanity. The small, tender moments—the smiles exchanged; their hands intertwined—became the most significant part of their final journey.
This will stay with the staff as a reflection of what compassionate care truly looks like, and how even the smallest gestures can make an immense difference in the lives of patients and their families. Thank you to all the staff that made this ending possible.
