A Christmas wish come true

After diagnosed with terminal cancer, Arthur Coughlan arrived at Carefor Hospice Cornwall to spend his final days in a home-like setting surrounded by his loved ones and a team of caring staff.

Like many people nearing end of life, Arthur has pondered on memories,  and unrealized dreams. 

The Palliative Day Away Program at Hospice hoped they could bring some joy into the lives of their patients by giving them the opportunity to have some experiences they might have missed. This Christmas, Arthur received an early Christmas present by being able to see a place he’d always wanted to visit.

One of Arthur’s biggest wishes was to visit London, England. His eyes lit up when he spoke about his love for history. He says he has always dreamed of visiting iconic landmarks, museums, and castles. However, he and his family never had the opportunity to visit London due to financial or time constraints.

Thanks to Wishplay, a company that uses virtual reality to give everyone the opportunity to live beyond their limitation, Arthur was able to feel like he was walking down the streets of London for the first time.

“If someone always wanted to do something and wasn’t able to because of their health or finances, they can do it now,” says Shannon Ball, Patient & Family Supportive Services Coordinator. “It can also help decrease boredom or depression.” 

It’s not only the virtual reality experience that made this Christmas special for Arthur, but also all the people around him.

“There’s so much that goes on [at Hospice] that people don’t know about,” he says. “Out of all the places that I’ve been in, this is the only place that I’ve felt welcome. The minute you walked in you were treated with respect. They’re there to give you comfort and pride.”

“It’s hard to believe that this is supposed to be a place of death … This is a place of luxury, a place of living,” Arthur adds.

You can help us bring quality support programs that enrich the lives of our clients and their families by donating at https://carefor.ca/donate.