A Wrexham resident has shared how her father's death sparked a lifelong connection with a hospice.

Pam Valentine has shared how her experience with her father's death in the late 1980s led to her involvement with Nightingale House Hospice.

Her father died from cancer, and she experienced first-hand the struggles faced by her mother, who was his primary carer.

Ms Valentine said: "I understood the importance of having a place like a hospice and how beneficial it would be for the community from my personal experience with my dad, and my mother being his primary carer at home."

This experience motivated her to help establish Nightingale House Hospice, which opened in 1996.

The hospice provided much-needed care and comfort for those with life-limiting illnesses.

Less than three years after the hospice opened, Ms Valentine's husband, Phillip, became a patient at Nightingale House.

The hospice played a vital role in his care, providing everything from daycare to hydrotherapy sessions.

When his condition worsened, Ms Valentine was able to stay with him overnight in the inpatient unit.

Their young sons, Matthew and Ben, were also supported by the hospice during this difficult time.

Pam, Phillip and their children   (Image: Supplied)

Ms Valentine said: "After Phillip died, we all received support from the hospice."

Her experience led her to become chair of the board of trustees, where she dedicated her time and expertise to the hospice's mission.

In 2023, Ms Valentine was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and once again, Nightingale House became a source of strength for her.

The hospice's rehabilitation team helped her maintain her core strength and fitness.

Ms Valentine said: "Hydrotherapy gives me focus.

"It makes me feel better, which is invaluable."

The hospice's holistic care approach also provided complementary therapies, helping Ms Valentine regain her strength and well-being.

Through her experiences, Ms Valentine has come to understand that the Wrexham hospice is about more than just end-of-life care - it’s about living fully and making the most of every single day.

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She added: "Nightingale House is all about living.

"Apart from the obvious emotional support, we as a family have benefited in terms of the actual care that all of us have received.

"I think, in my case, I’ve contributed something worthwhile for the community by being a part of building the hospice from the start."

Reflecting on her own journey, Ms Valentine summed it up, saying: "The building is a vehicle to deliver the services, and it’s a very nice building, especially since the modernisation project.

"But no, the building would not be anything without the people.

"It’s the people who make this place special, with their care, time, and attention."