Hospice care isn’t only about managing symptoms or providing end of life care, it’s also about helping people live fully, right up to the last moment.
When one of our patients, Milly, shared her wish to get a meaningful tattoo, our nurses went above and beyond to make it possible. With their support, she was able to create a lasting reminder of what mattered most to her, showing that even in the most difficult times, hospice care is about supporting people to with what’s important to them…
Milly was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer on 3rd August 2023, aged just 37. With her only symptom being severe, immeasurable pain, scans and tests confirmed the cancer and revealed it had already spread to her ovaries and liver.
In late September 2024, Milly began vomiting blood so was admitted to hospital where she was told one of the tumours in her liver had ruptured.
Milly said:
I was offered one last round of treatment, but without any guarantee it would help. We decided that focusing on my quality of life would be better. I have two young children, Jasmine Tiana who is six and Jada Rose who’s four, and I wanted to make the most of the time I have left.
Milly was admitted to our Coventry Myton Hospice in October.
I was nervous when I first heard about Myton, thinking it was a one-way ticket. But from the moment I arrived, I felt so much better and I’ve never been happier in a clinical environment. It’s so peaceful, and all the staff are wonderful – I can’t say a bad word about anyone. The doctors, nurses and volunteers have taken the time to listen to me and my loved ones. They are so patient with us all and have held my hand through everything.
A lifelong wish for Milly had always been to get a tattoo, but she could never decide on a meaningful design. Plus, she worried about what her parents would think! Thinking of her daughters, Milly finally decided to get a tattoo of the flowers they are named after, which gave her all the meaning she needed.
When one of our amazing Senior Staff Nurses, Lauren, heard about Milly’s idea, she contacted a tattoo artist she knew, also named Lauren, to help bring her vision to life.
Milly added:
I don’t know how long I have left, so why not! My mum even agreed, so there wasn’t the argument I was expecting! I knew I wanted the Jasmine and Rose flowers, their names and birth dates in the design, so Lauren took the brief and created a masterpiece! I started crying when I first saw it. It wasn’t what I imagined but it was exactly what I wanted.
On Sunday 10th November, tattooist Lauren kindly gave her time to give Milly her tattoo at our Coventry Myton Hospice.
It took about two hours, and it didn’t hurt too much, though I’m putting that down to the morphine! I am so grateful to Lauren for capturing exactly what I wanted and for doing it for free! She’s incredibly talented, and I couldn’t be happier! I even named the bee in the tattoo ‘Lauren’, in honour of both the nurse and the artist who made this possible. Now my daughters will be with me forever.
Lauren said:
One of the best parts of my job (aside from creating unique artwork that people get to wear on their skin) is spending time with people and sharing their stories. This is the first time I've been asked to tattoo in a hospice and I really enjoyed meeting Milly and being able to do her first tattoo in honour of her daughters! I hope this creates a special memory for them to cherish. It feels like a true privilege to have been able to do this and, I have to say, Myton was an amazing place with wonderful caring staff.
Lauren specialises in custom artistic tattoos and offers 3D hyper realistic nipple tattoos for those affected by breast cancer. We would like to say a big thank you to Lauren for taking the time to make Milly’s wish a reality!
Find out more about Lauren HERE!
Milly also created memory boxes for her children with the help of our Activities Coordinator. She commented:
So far, the boxes have a photo of me and part of the tattoo stencil, so Jasmine and Jada always know they’re with me. Having something like this available at Myton is incredible and really shows the depth of palliative care – they’re willing to help in any way they can.
Reflecting on her time at Myton, Milly said:
Everyone and everything about Myton is magical. It’s the little things that mean the most. Like the memory boxes and having the children’s toys in the common area so Jasmine and Jada can play. The nurses greet them like they’re family and love having them around. And of course, arranging and facilitating the tattoo. That’s the difference between a place like Myton and a hospital.
In my situation, I can’t cry and wallow in self-pity. I did try for a few days but it was exhausting! With Jasmine and Jada to think about, I have to stay positive and make the most of every moment we have together!
Milly died peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones.
At The Myton Hospices, we’re here to honour what matters most to each person, helping them live life their way and create precious memories.
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