On the pilgrim way: ‘I am joining a vast number of carers’

24/06/2022 | Reform

Sheila Maxey recognises her ‘devils’

Kees has had a reprieve: in medical terms he is stable. This means the various support bodies such as District Nurse and Hospice at Home stop calling but say I can call them when needed. … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘Sometimes my cry is “How long, O Lord?”’

28/05/2022 | Reform

Sheila Maxey faces desperate times and strange blessings

As I wait for Kees to die I am haunted by the Taizé chant ‘Wait for the Lord whose day is near: wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart.’ Mostly it … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘We are all dying, but he is dying sooner’

27/04/2022 | Reform

Sheila Maxey arranges a difficult homecoming

My husband, Kees, is home from hospital. In preparation we cleared furniture out of our TV room to make room for the hospital bed and also a hoist. We cleared shelves and a table … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘Amid the encircling gloom, lead thou me on’

21/03/2022 | Reform

Sheila Maxey is on a medical rollercoaster

My pilgrim way at present is a rollercoaster, flinging me up and down. On 25 January, Kees was taken into hospital at 3am by the paramedics. Soon diagnosed with double pneumonia, they started … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘I think I must have that song at my funeral’

25/02/2022 | Reform

Sheila Maxey lifts her eyes to the roof

Our son came to talk through a ‘Respect’ document with us. (It stands for Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment.) One question was: ‘On the spectrum from “Keep me alive … Read More

On the pilgrim way ‘Every event which takes place feels like a gift’

28/01/2022 | Reform

Sheila Maxey sees the gift in every event

I don’t usually feel this lighthearted at the beginning of another year. The news is as bad as ever: Omicron rampant and so many people’s Christmas hopes of family meetings or escape … Read More