Volunteer Profile – Sharon Sharp
What does palliative care mean to you?
Palliative care as I see it, is person-centred, high quality individualised care, that seeks to maximise quality of life for individuals with life limiting illness. It extends to providing support and advice for family and carers, based on the individuals needs and circumstances. It encompasses physical, emotional, psycho-social and spiritual needs, with the aim of assisting patients to live as actively as possible and to preserve dignity and choice through the end of life.
Palliative care can help a person manage their illness, particularly pain and symptoms, so they can live life as well as possible, whilst dealing with the illness. Palliative care recognizes that every person and situation is different, taking into account and putting plans in place to manage changes through the course of illness.
Why did you choose to volunteer with Ambulance Wish Queensland?
As a Registered Nurse and Midwife, with a career spanning over 35 years, I continue to be passionate in providing the best possible care to my patients and their families. Particularly with the birth of a new baby into this world, I have always found it to be such a privilege to be the first person to be involved in the amazing birth of a new life. In 2020, I made a New Year’s resolution to take on a voluntary role within the community. I was drawn to Ambulance Wish Queensland, as I believe that the final stage in the circle of life should also be celebrated. Based on and recognising the individual’s specific story, final wishes can create lasting memories for all involved and provide comfort and support at such a difficult period of time.
Ambulance Wish Queensland provides unique opportunities for end of life care, providing individualised wishes and creating forever memories.
On every wish that I have attended, I have felt extremely humbled to be a part of something so special, where personalised wishes are created and give precious memories for the patient and their loved ones. The work of Ambulance Wish Queensland is very important – it relies largely on donations and I look forward to the future, where more wishes can be created as further funding of the project is available.
I consider now that in my role as a Registered Nurse, I am complete. I feel very fortunate that I am able to be involved and can make the end of life care of a patient as dignified as possible.
How do you see Ambulance Wish Queensland in the community?
Ambulance Wish Queensland’s mission is to give people living with a terminal illness, the resources, specialist transport and medical care they need to fulfil their final wishes. Often wishes are simple requests from a sick person such as sitting by the water and enjoying an ice cream with special family and friends. This has an amazing ability to help not only the recipient, but also their loved ones, who can feel that they are doing something proactive in creating unique memories.
Ambulance Wish Queensland is a dedicated service that seeks to maximise the quality of life for individuals with terminal illness and their families. It operates largely on donations from the public and some government funding. In December 2021, Ambulance Wish Queensland had it’s first Gala Dinner, which raised just over $50, 000. This will provide much needed assistance in getting an ambulance for the northern part of Queensland, in Townsville. A fun night of laughter and tears was enjoyed by many, as we heard the stories from three families who had lost loved ones to terminal illness and wanted their appreciation of the wish from the service to be heard.
Even when I am in the car with the AWQ , following “Betty” the ambulance – people are curious to know what the service provides. There have been people at the park who have seen the patient being taken out of the ambulance and they are keen to find out more. AWQ is constantly evolving in a wonderful way and I look forward to being able to assist with many more future wishes. I am of the opinion that as Ambulance Wish grows, it will become an integral part of the community and provide much needed support, love and memories for the patient and those dear to them.
How do you see an Ambulance Wish impacting wish recipients and their friends and family?
I have only seen wonderful positive experiences which are created very individually, taking into account each person’s unique story. It isn’t just about the clinical care provided for the recipient, it goes much deeper and aims to provide all involved with creating precious memories, which are tailor made to suit the situation. It recognizes that we are all different, yet in so many ways the same and often times, unsure of what we can do or say when the end of life is near.
AWQ creates a wish which is unique to the recipient and their needs. It takes into account the physical, emotional, spiritual and social requirements of the recipient and from that aims to provide a positive encounter for all involved.
When I have met families and friends of an AWQ recipient’s it is very evident that a special bond is created and people have made wonderful, lasting memories during the wish. Many will keep in touch long after their loved one has passed and seek shelter in reliving the precious memories that have been made. This is a source of great comfort and support, as families and their friends navigate through grief and bereavement.
Do you have any key memories of a Wish you have been on?
Probably my first wish – RAY. I wasn’t sure how it would go, or what to expect. It was wonderful to see AWQ working with the patient and family/friends to create the best possible individualized wish.
Memories of that day were of a man who wanted to meet with family and friends on the foreshore of Manly. He was oxygen dependent, so a lot had to be organized with access to power being essential. This had been arranged with the local council and a young man gave access and stayed for the whole event, making sure everything was ok. This young man was amazed by the whole experience. As Ray was assisted out of the ambulance, I met his son Mark for the first time. He was really struggling to try and not be upset. I gave him a long hug and we talked about how he was feeling and that it was ok to show his emotions. He was very scared and finding it difficult to be “ in the moment” with his Dad.
Ray was joined by his wife Jenny, his son and daughter and other family and friends. He spent time eating and a having a beer with friends and family, including his 96 year old mother, Daisy! The atmosphere was palpable, filled with much love and happiness – forever memories were indeed made.
Speaking with Ray on the way back to the hospital, he confirmed that having a beer, conversations, photo’s and memories of sharing time with his precious family and friends had been wonderful. He felt exhausted after the day of emotions, but felt that he had spent quality time on his wish, with the most important people in his life. He felt he had left a memory that people close to him would remember, in the future. Nothing could beat that smile across his face….
