A cancer patient has died after a final farewell to her favorite horse outside the hospital where she was treated. Sheila Marsh was granted her final wish of seeing her horse Bronwen just before her death.
A fond farewell between horse and owner
After a farewell visit from one of her dogs last weekend, Sheila Marsh told hospital staff of her wish to see her favorite horse Bronwen, who she had looked after for the previous 25 years.
© 2014 by Andrew Foster - BBC News
The staff at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan granted Sheila Marsh's last wish, by arranging a visit from two of her horses. The hospital said the 77-year-old, unable to speak properly due to illness, "gently called" her favourite horse, who then nuzzled her cheek.
Mrs Marsh, who used to work at Haydock Park Racecourse, died early on Tuesday. The grandmother from Wigan had six horses, three dogs, three cats and other animals.
But after a farewell visit from one of her dogs last weekend, she told hospital staff of her wish to see her favorite horse Bronwen, who she had looked after for the previous 25 years. They arranged for Bronwen and another horse to come to the hospital car park, where nurses wheeled Mrs Marsh in her bed.
"Sheila gently called to Bronwen and the horse bent down tenderly and kissed her on the cheek as they said their last goodbyes."
Pauline Law, deputy director of nursing, said staff felt privileged to have been involved.
"This was obviously extremely important to [Mrs Marsh] and her family and we feel privileged to have been able to provide this support at this crucial stage of her care," she said.
"It is absolutely right that we should pull out all the stops to ensure that our patients and their families receive personalized, compassionate and dignified care at the end of their life and this is what we will always strive to achieve."