The Dorothy House Podcast

Supporting Children Through Loss: Insights from Our Family Support Team

How do you support children and young people when they face the life-limiting diagnosis or death of a loved one? In this episode, Anne and Donna from our Family Support Team share their expert advice on navigating these challenging conversations. They discuss the importance of honesty, openness, and age-appropriate communication, as well as approaches to involving children in funerals to help them understand and find closure.
Learn about the different behaviours children may display during grief and discover ways to provide a supportive environment that meets their unique needs. Whether you’re a parent, carer, or professional, this episode offers valuable tools for guiding young people through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

Seb shares his childhood experience of grief from the loss of his mother, Amanda

In this deeply moving episode, we hear from Seb, who tragically lost his mother at a young age. Seb shares his personal story of loss, the overwhelming emotions that followed, and the struggle to process his grief. He opens up about the anger he felt during his childhood and his intense desire to appear strong in the face of overwhelming pain. Through his raw and honest reflections, Seb explores how those feelings shaped him and how he found a path towards healing. This episode offers a powerful message about vulnerability, resilience, and the complexity of grief.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation that sheds light on the emotional journey of loss and the strength found in embracing one’s true feelings.

Sandie and Stephen share their story about Fin

In this episode, Fin's mum Sandie and BA (Hons) Photography Course Leader, Stephen Vaughan, share their painful but deeply inspirational story about Fin, who died on 25 March 2022, aged 31, following the diagnosis of a brain tumour in 2018. 
On Friday 20 October, Bath Spa University launched an exhibition and 100-page publication of work by Fin, titled ‘With This Breath’. This formed part of his legacy, something that concerned him before his death, and a project which has been fully realised. “It was an incredibly courageous and beautiful piece of work that was unflinchingly honest and deeply moving,“ says Stephen.  
 

How to manage your Digital Legacy.

We all have a digital footprint. Be it on social media, via music downloads, gaming avatars, voicemails, photos or email. But what happens to all of these digital touchpoints when someone dies?
We interviewed James Norris, founder of the Digital Legacy Association and MyWishes to help answer some of the most important questions about how to curate, protect and preserve our digital legacies. 
For more information visit our FREE Digital Legacy Resources. 

Guardianship

Donna Oakes, Children & Families Practitioner from our Dorothy House Family Support Team and Simon Walker, Senior Associate Solicitor in the Mogers Drewett Solicitors' Family Team discuss the legal concept of guardianship, and offer practical and empathetic ways to navigate the legal options.

A day in the life of our Community Palliative Care Teams

In this month’s episode, we spend the day with Helena King, Clinical Lead and Gemma Read, Specialist Nurse in our Community Palliative Care Team. Out on the road and meeting patients, we learn more about their roles and what inspires them to do the job they do – providing outstanding palliative care to patients in their homes, care homes and where they need it most.
 

Jo and Anthony Millard share their emotional story of losing their son to bowel cancer

In this episode, we hear the deeply personal and emotional story of Jo and Anthony Millards son Benj who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2018, aged 33. He died less than eight months later. As Benj fought his battle with courage, he found his way to Dorothy House, a sanctuary where he was showered with love, kindness, and compassionate care during his final days.
As Jo and Anthony open up about the painful journey they went through, we witness the heartbreaking emotions they felt as they watched their precious son's life slip away. They share with us the memories of Benj, his radiant passion for life, and the impact he had on everyone around him. They also bravely open up about the immense difficulties they faced in dealing with their devastating loss, social impacts and how they turned to the support of their local community and bereavement groups to find some solace.
This emotional and moving conversation is a heartrending tribute to Benj's life and legacy, a loving testimony of the enduring bond between parents and child, and a poignant reminder of the devastating impact that a terminal illness can have on individuals and families. Above all, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of talking about death, grief, and loss, and the healing power of sharing our stories with others.

Interview with our Director of patient and family services, Maggie Crowe

In this episode, we sit down with Maggie Crowe, the Director of Patient and Family Services at Dorothy House. Maggie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the discussion, sharing her insights on how to provide compassionate care to patients and their families. She shares stories from her years of working in the field, and discusses the challenges that healthcare providers face when working with terminally ill patients. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or simply someone interested in learning more about hospice care, this episode is not to be missed.