My wife Thérèse (85 years old) recently died after a long illness: Alzheimer’s disease started in 2015, with epileptic seizures detected quite late and numerous ischemic attacks, which all required short stays in Avignon hospital. in neurology where she has always been very well received and cared for.
On January 31 of this year, after strong vomiting, the Samu took her to the digestive surgery department of the Avignon hospital where an intestinal obstruction was detected with the installation of an external pocket. A week later, an untreatable advanced cancer affecting major organs was discovered.
When I got home in mid-February, my wife was taken care of by the HAD (home hospital) which gave me great relief. Her condition remained more or less stationary until mid-April when … she was admitted to the palliative care unit of the Avignon hospital.
How can I express my gratitude for what we found there as humanity, friendly warmth, multiple attentions to my wife and to our family, all of whose members, from the oldest to the youngest, were able to come and say goodbye without limitation to their Grandma. (…) Great was my surprise at having absolutely nothing to pay either to the HAD or to the hospital. “The security and your mutual have settled everything …” My children explained to me that I had paid a lot of contributions and that it was normal… In spite of everything, by congratulating myself on the French health care system, I felt that I owed a little more for all that had brought the care team in the palliative care unit. An association allowed me to make a donation to improve the lives of patients, but what can I do for the caregivers? I brought them boxes of chocolate for six months (as long as they only had one per week). I think it gave them great pleasure.
I believe that in France we are lucky.
Pierre Tourneur
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