14 August 2025

Story: Revealing the Extraordinary in All of Us

Dave with wife Cherryl, son Logan and daughter Tanya

Every day at Waipuna Hospice, extraordinary moments unfold.

Even those who describe their lives as “ordinary” often have the most extraordinary stories to share.

One such story is Dave’s. Among the many patients who have come through our doors, Dave’s journey is truly extraordinary…

Dave lived with cancer for 16 years – an extraordinary long time. Sixteen years of enduring, and living, and through it all his wife, Cherryl and their children, stood by him.

“I remember when he told me,” Cherryl recalls. “He rang me crying and said, ‘I’ve got cancer.” Dave had Metastatic Neuro-Endocrine Tumors, doctors gave him six months. Eight rounds of chemo couldn’t slow the disease. “The tumours in his liver were massive.”

Despite this, they kept living. They visited many of their favourite places – Whitianga, Hahei, Hot Water Beach, and skiing in the South Island for as long as Dave could. The treatment Dave needed wasn’t funded by the Government, so they petitioned for five years. Today, others can access vital cancer treatment – this meant such a lot to Dave.

“Slowly, we watched Dave get worse. It was hard. We loved him so much. It hurt to watch,” said Cherryl. “We had 55 years together, and I’ll cherish that forever.”

Dave’s wish was simple: to stay at home, surrounded by the people and things he loved – including their cats, who took turns guarding the foot of his bed. “He didn’t want to be in hospital,” Cherryl said. “I called my family, and we managed to provide Dave with 24-hour care, but by the end I was exhausted. I couldn’t do it on my own anymore.”

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That’s when Waipuna Hospice became part of their story.

“For me, Waipuna Hospice was a light at the end of the tunnel. Suddenly, there was help. Help for Dave but also help for me.”

At first, Dave was hesitant – like many, he thought hospice was only for the final days. But the visits from nurses and social workers changed everything.

“They’d come round, check on him, and listen. He even joked with them. I could step back and just breathe. They made him feel comfortable. They supported both of us – and even our son Logan when he arrived. They explained everything clearly and never talked over me. It felt like friends were coming to visit. Dave looked forward to seeing them.”

“I remember Dave once asked why he was getting such special treatment,” Cherryl laughs. “But we realised – it’s just how Hospice cares.”

One day, Cherryl told the nurses she needed a better bed for Dave – something that could help him sit up and breathe easier. The next day, it arrived.

Dave's cats always guarding him at the end of the bed

At first, Dave wouldn’t sleep in it. “He was afraid we wouldn’t be able to hold hands,” Cherryl smiled. “Every night we’d lie in bed, holding hands and just talk, like always.”

Small acts like that made it possible for Dave to stay at home, and for Cherryl to keep going.

Son, Logan helping Dave with medications

Their son Logan, an Intensive Care Consultant, flew back from the Netherlands to be with them. Though he had clinical experience, nothing could prepare him for losing his dad.

“Hospice allowed Dad’s final weeks to be on his terms. They helped us care for him at home -physically and emotionally,” Logan said. “I used to think hospice was a place. I didn’t realise how much they do in someone’s home.”

“For Mum and me, it was also knowing we had backup. Someone to ensure Dad’s comfort or help us if he needed to be moved.”

“Being able to ease Dad’s pain, and make sure we had a few more clear moments together, gave me peace. It helped me deal with the grief. Dad cared for me all my life – then I got to care for him. I feel grateful for that.”

Dave died at home – just as he’d hoped. Peacefully. “Without Hospice, it would’ve been painful,” said Logan. “Dad didn’t want to fade away in hospital. He didn’t want to be a burden to Mum or lose his independence.”

“Thanks to Hospice, his last day wasn’t in a room with vinyl walls – it was at home, with music playing, Mum and I holding his hand, the cats guarding his bed.”

Even after Dave passed, Hospice was there for Cherryl.

“Seven months later, I went to the bereavement group,” she said. “At first, I wasn’t sure. I thought, ‘Do I want to sit around and talk about death?’ But it wasn’t like that at all.”

She found comfort in the shared experience of others walking their own grief journeys. “Everyone there gets it. You don’t have to explain how you feel. It’s accepting. Supportive.”

Cherryl also began one-on-one counselling with a Hospice counsellor. “I couldn’t afford private counselling. Hospice made that possible – and that means everything.

“Waipuna’s care is so encompassing. You feel like someone is still looking out for you – even after your loved one is gone.”

Cherryl and Dave after his 2nd round of chemo

We can support our extraordinary patients like Dave because of the contributions of our supporters. Government provides just 43% of the cost of running Waipuna Hospice, so we rely on our generous community of volunteers, shoppers and donors to help.

Currently, we face a financial challenge, this one bigger and tougher than ever before. We face a huge gap between what the Government provides and what it costs to run our services. We’re determined to continue to provide our care free-of-charge, but the cost is high.

Today, I’m asking you to help us be there for more people like Dave, Cherryl, and Logan.

Your donation means more families can receive this same level of care – not just in the final days, but throughout the whole journey. It ensures someone else can stay at home with the people and memories they love. That no one has to do it alone.

We want to say a huge thank you to Dave, Cherryl and Logan for sharing their story with us.

Please make a donation today. Your generosity ensures Waipuna Hospice can continue providing wrap-around compassionate care to those in our community who need it most

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