“Halton Haven is number one, there is no better place”
We had the privilege of talking with Alina, aged 32, and her twin sister, Dorina, about their experience with Halton Haven Hospice. Photos in this story were taken on Alina’s polaroid camera.
Coming to the Hospice
Alina first came to Halton Haven Hospice in October 2025 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Alina says “I ended up in hospital with inflammation and a high temperature. They explained I was too weak and poorly for chemotherapy and it would affect my quality of life. So, on 30th of October 2025, I arrived in Halton Haven Hospice for end of life care. They weren’t sure how long I would live, could be weeks- maximum months, because when I came here, I was really poorly.”
“She wasn’t able to eat or walk, she was losing a lot of weight.” Adds Dorina
Alina continues saying “I didn’t know what a hospice was. I didn’t know how long or what was next, I just thought I would stay here until I died. For the first couple of days, I was scared and anxious but the same evening I arrived they started to support me with different medications to manage my symptoms. After a bit I felt amazing, I could eat, I could talk and I had some energy – it has helped bring me back to life.”
But for Alina, it wasn’t just the pain management that staff at Halton Haven Hospice supported her with.
“They manage the pain which is in your soul and heart which is really important. They manage to make sure you are mentally, physically and emotionally in every way okay.”
Adding “It’s how they care, how they treat me, talk with me, support me – yeah the nurses come and ask how are you. In hospital you can feel quite alone, but here they really care. I believe and I see that this is not only their job, but they are also doing this because they love what they are doing. I love this place because people’s hearts and their desire to help people and how they care about others helps to bring patients like me back to life. You feel this energy that they are doing what they love to do, and I am very grateful for that.”
Providing the care people deserve
Alina spoke with us about the care she had received at Halton Haven Hospice saying “Halton Haven is number 1, there is no better place”
One instance she shared was “I needed to go to hospital. Scott and Donna supported me (Hospice Staff), by coming with me. It was a terrible experience for me at the hospital, but because Donna was next to me and the next morning picked me up, that is something that I really remember. How she dealt with that situation, she really supported me. When she saw me, she hugged me, said lots of nice things to make me calm down. It was so sensitive and so nice. Donna didn’t need to do that, she could have just done her job but no, she really cared about how I felt. I really appreciate that. That is memorable because on one hand it was bad, but how Halton Haven Hospice helped me, even in that terrible situation, made me feel better.”
Hospice food that can brighten up your day
When speaking with Alina it became apparent how much food played an important part in her care at Halton Haven Hospice.
Recalling a memory Alina says “My sister was in a hotel and she sent a picture saying they had breakfast included. I saw on the picture black pudding and when the Hospice brought me English breakfast it wasn’t on there, so I was a little bit jealous. I said ‘Where is my hash brown and black pudding? I would like to try it’ and then one day one of the nurses went to the store and they cooked it for me. It was the first time I had ever tried a FULL English breakfast with black pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, it was a huge plate. I was so excited to try everything. I had everything, like a 5-star restaurant. I took a picture and sent it to Dorina saying ‘I got the same but even better.”
“I still don’t know how I feel about black pudding though.” Alina adds while laughing.
Dorina says “It was nice because they didn’t have that on the menu.” With Alina adding “Yeah, they bought it for me specially then for three days in a row I had the breakfast.
I like the Sunday dinner as well, it is a British tradition people like to enjoy with their family, at home or in a restaurant, and when I tried Sunday roast here, I felt like this was my home. It’s something so special and delicious – I feel at home in the UK finally, I feel at home here with the nurses, it is really nice.
We also spoke previously with Alina about her room having a great view onto the front gardens at the Hospice and the bird visitors she likes to get “I save my sandwich corners to share with the birds outside my window, they need to have a breakfast as well.”
Adding life to days
Dorina shares “When I first came to visit Alina, she could barely walk and she was in bed all day, but then I came a few weeks later and she was able to walk and was full of energy. She was saying she wanted a nice evening and a party, so we went to the local pub ’Queen of Hearts’. Alina was putting on her makeup, and we ordered pizza and cocktails, it was a very nice evening as we were outside but not too far away. We then went to the shop and bought some snacks and wine, and we stayed at the hospice till about 10pm, it was like a mini party!”
Alina joins in to share “For me I was living here alone, I didn’t have anyone to take me to restaurant or have a simple Friday night. It was the last chance to be like a normal human being, enjoy my weekend in the pub, that is what people do. I could forget about everything and just sit there and enjoy. I was so excited and anxious, but to be there and to eat pizza and enjoy nice company with my sister, that was so amazing. I feel freedom at the Hospice, people treat you like a human, not a patient so it was really nice to be able to do that.”
Dorina adds “You are allowed and free to go any time you want, if you are able. You can take a wheelchair or they said ‘just call us and we will come to you’ They are supporting you wherever you are, they are prepared.”
Talking about another moment Alina says, “People are going shopping getting Christmas gifts. I like to go to the store and sometimes I get this feeling that I want to be normal like other people. I don’t need nothing, no food or nothing, but I just want to go to the store because it’s normal. For me to pay with my card and get something, it is an exciting experience. So the Hospice lets me go shopping and do that, its small things that are nice.”
“Halton Haven Hospice care about even the small details, I feel safe, I feel like they care, this for me is wonderful and I don’t know how to share the gratitude I feel.”
Alina also played a very important role at our Light Up A Life event 2025. Read more about her involvement HERE.