On February 27, 2024 Robin Lesley-Clark thought he was going to Mercy Hospice to die. Instead, he credits Mercy Hospice for the wrap-around care and support he needed to fight for his life.

Having just finished a six-week stay after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour behind his eye, Robin praised the volunteers at Mercy Hospice as “life-savers”.

“I thought I was going there to die,” he said “But in fact, Mercy Hospice saved my life. The level of care from their clinical teams and the awesome support provided by the volunteers and staff was unlike anything I had ever experienced.”

Robin’s diagnosis had left him in immense pain, leading him to believe he had very little time left. Referred to Mercy Hospice for pain management, he was prepared for this to be the final chapter.

During his stay, he underwent rigorous treatment, including 34 sessions of radiation and daily chemotherapy. He described the support he received as not just medical but extremely personal. And it’s Mercy’s volunteers that Robin wants to thank for giving him the strength to live every moment.

“The volunteers made me feel like I was their only priority. They took me to my appointments, waited for me, asked if I wanted to go anywhere, and made sure I was comfortable. I was so sick, but they helped me fight. I felt spoiled and cared for in a way I had never experienced before. If I won Lotto this weekend, I would give half of it to Mercy Hospice. That’s how much they mean to me.”

After completing his treatment at Mercy Hospice, Robin was able to see well from both eyes and he was steady on his feet with no pain. Staff gathered and sang, as is their tradition, a Waiata for him as he left his room. Although we might see Robin back at Mercy at some point in the future, he knows he will be warmly welcomed, and the cloak of Mercy will once more wrap around him.

In a conversation he had with one of our nurses, Robin said “The chemo got rid of my cancer, but Mercy saved my life.”

Thank you, Robin for allowing us to share your story.