“There were days I could only sit, but meeting the volunteers and staff was great for me” – Ann Hogan.
It’s 14 years since Ann Hogan first walked through the doors of the Hospice shop in Roscommon Town and offered her services as a volunteer. At the time, she had just retired and was looking for a hobby or activity to pass a few hours. Ann used to meet a friend of hers for dinner and a catch-up a few times a week, and together, they decided to put their free time to good use and give a helping hand in the Hospice shop.
It was great to volunteer as friends and to work together for a worthy cause. Sadly, Ann’s friend became ill and passed away five years ago, but by then, Ann was very much part and parcel of the shop in Roscommon, and although she missed having her friend at her side, she continued volunteering because she loves it so much.
Unfortunately, Ann has had to deal with her own challenges, too but since becoming ill in 2021, her voluntary work has been a wonderful distraction. “I felt unwell at the opening of the Roscommon Hospice and had to be taken home. I went to hospital on the following Monday and was diagnosed shortly after that,” she recalled.
In January 2022, Ann had major surgery, with her gallbladder, one kidney, her pancreas and a tumour on her bile duct removed. As if that wasn’t enough, she also contracted several infections, including sepsis, and was hospitalised almost every three or four weeks.
“I lost over five stone in weight, and I was very ill, but I still loved coming into the shop and volunteering. There were days I could only sit down, but meeting the volunteers and staff was great for me. It meant I could stop thinking about it all for a short time,” Ann explained.
A few months ago, Ann suffered another setback when she had a stroke. There were two clots, but the biggest one shattered. “Only this week, the doctors told me I would have been paralysed if it hadn’t shattered,” she added.
Ann is getting palliative care now and is still on treatment. But even the chemo doesn’t keep her from volunteering. “I’m having chemo while we’re speaking here. It will be coming off tomorrow, but I just love coming in here. It does me good every time,” she beamed.
As brave as she is generous with her time, Ann is meeting her illness head-on, and is delighted to be still volunteering with Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
“I know that I will probably end up in the Hospice, but it feels good to have helped fundraise, and getting the Hospice built was great. I love working here and meeting the people, and I’m hoping to keep going for a long time yet,” Ann smiled.
