North Devon Hospice brings the comforts of home to travellers from distant lands

When Tom Hein and his wife Trish relocated to North Devon in May this year, they couldn't have predicted what would come next.

They were embracing a new adventure — Tom, an American and Trish, South African — ready to build their life in this corner of England after moving from the Cotswolds.

Shortly after the move, Tom received a palliative diagnosis. What followed wasn’t the story they’d imagined, but it was one that would restore their faith in compassionate healthcare.

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Tom’s clinical nurse specialist, Gary, provided essential support during those early, difficult phases. When Tom received a leaflet about North Devon Hospice, he was genuinely taken aback. The facility looked warm and welcoming, far removed from the sad and unpleasant very clinical setting he’d expected. It planted a seed of reassurance during an uncertain time.

By November, Tom’s pain had escalated to the point where hospital admission was necessary. When staff informed him that North Devon Hospice had a bed available for symptom management, Tom and Trish faced the decision with a mixture of apprehension and hope.

Tom arrived at North Devon Hospice in late November, right around Thanksgiving, a holiday that carries deep significance for Americans.

Above: One of Tom’s heartfelt wishes was to experience a spiral hug, a traditional South African mindfulness practice. North Devon Hospice staff made it happen for him. Credit: North Devon Hospice

Once the nursing team had brought his pain under control and Tom was feeling somewhat better, something wonderful happened.

The catering staff, understanding the importance of the occasion, prepared a beautiful afternoon tea so Tom and Trish could mark Thanksgiving together.

“It was amazing,” Tom recalled. “The food was excellent.”

For a couple navigating such challenging circumstances, this gesture offered a moment of normalcy and celebration.

Then came an even more touching surprise. One of the clinical admin staff, having heard about Tom’s stay, took it upon herself to source ingredients and bake a traditional pumpkin pie from scratch.

Tom’s response said it all: “It tasted exactly as I remembered from my time in Wisconsin.”

The thoughtfulness of the gesture left him genuinely moved.

The kitchen staff continued to demonstrate this level of attentiveness. When Tom mentioned a particular tomato soup recipe, one that suggested it contained healing properties, the team didn’t hesitate.

They prepared it to his specifications, just one small example of how North Devon Hospice consistently goes above and beyond.

“Both Trish and I are blown away by the lengths everyone goes to make us comfortable and ensure I have everything I need,” Tom said. “I don’t have a negative word to say.”

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Yet the true measure of his experience at North Devon Hospice extends far beyond culinary kindness. Tom’s stay provided him with something invaluable: time and space to process complex emotions and address unfinished business.

During his time there, he reconnected with his brother after 16 years of not talking. A reconciliation that might never have happened without this pause in the journey.

For Trish, the hospice stay offered much-needed respite. She could have the time and space to decompress. Tom found comfort in having those difficult conversations surrounded by expert care professionals about the future and planning for ongoing support for Trish.

One of Tom’s heartfelt wishes was to experience a spiral hug, a traditional South African mindfulness practice he learned about through the Body Stress Release Academy. Typically performed during birthday celebrations, participants form a spiral to send well wishes to the person at its centre.

Understanding how much this meant to both Tom and Trish, the staff at North Devon Hospice gathered together to make it happen.

The timing proved unexpectedly poignant: the spiral hug took place just before Tom was well enough to go home for the weekend, creating a powerful moment of connection before he and Trish could spend some precious time together in the comfort of their own home.

Tom and Trish’s story is a testament to what healthcare can be when clinical expertise meets genuine human compassion.

It’s a reminder that even in our most vulnerable moments, there are people and places ready to provide not just medical care, but dignity, kindness and yes, even pumpkin pie that tastes like home.