I’m Daisy and today I turn 28. For my birthday, I'm sacrificing all presents from friends and family, and instead of presents for me, I would like them to donate money to St Helena Hospice, and I'm hoping to raise about 200 quid.

I have comorbidities including stage 4, shifting stage five, kidney failure. I have stayed at the Hospice twice and right now I am being supported by St Helena at home.

I feel like at this stage of my life I'm lucky that I have all the belongings I need and I have support from everyone, so why ask for a new lip gloss or whatever, when actually the money could go towards something that is really actually helping me. I think it's a lot nicer to do that. I have enough stuff, so I’ve said donate! 

You don't know how good St Helena Hospice is until you need it, and I think that's a shame. I want to do what I can to make sure that everyone knows how amazing the people are and what St Helena Hospice is all about. 

At home, where I am now, the Hospice in the Home team are looking after me, especially my clinical nurse specialist, Di Turner, who is the queen! She'll say she's going to do something and then within 48 hours it's done. She knows exactly what she's doing and understands I need to know what's going on. 

Daisy on her 28th birthday

You hear about the Hospice and you get nervous and think it's just about dying, and it's actually not. I think mainly it's actually because of the staff; they have time, they remember small details, they remember family members’ names, they call me Daisy. 

It's just all about what's best for you, and you kind of steer the train. That's important because everyone will get to know me and how I am before I get to my expiry. They'll know what I like and then I know that we'll be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, which is really nice.

But as far as actually dying, I'm not worried because it's always been on the cards. I've had a lot of history with medical things. I've always been prepared. I see death as a long sleep and I think the only thing that would scare me, is that it will hurt. But I spoke to the nurses about that and they have said pretty much that they will do everything that they can possibly do to make sure that doesn't happen. So I feel quite confident in that and there is pain medication and even the reflexology and things like that, relaxes you so you can be calm. 

I am confident to know that I am very much supported, and it's all about the quality of life, not how long I need to spend in the Hospice. It's about how much I can enjoy life, which is really positive. Whereas before I needed the Hospice, my view was you probably only came in for four days and you were dead at the end, so I didn't realise that they did things like rehabilitation and support along the way as well for you and your family. It's really important that my family are getting supported because they're going through this just as much as me, so it is nice that everyone gets a use out of it. 

You feel like you are part of the St Helena Hospice family and it's really comforting because I feel like my mum and my stepdad and my brother will be left in a family unit and have all the support they need when it happens, which is really comforting to me because that was one of my stresses when I go. Not that I expect hearts to be breaking all over the world, but you do know that you leave hole in people's lives, so it's nice that there's lots of support for them as well, which I didn't know St Helena Hospice provided until I opened my mouth and started chatting to everyone.

So, yep, we're raising money. I'm not having birthday presents today, I'm having just all of my friends and family donate the money to St Helena Hospice and donate their time to me, which is so much better than presents. I'd just rather people's time; that means more to me than anything. So they may as well put their money where it's of use to St Helena Hospice and give their time to me!

Here is my Just Giving link if you would like to donate too!  

Daisy at home with clinical nurse specialist Di

Daisy at the Hospice enjoying homemade chips