John Taylor Hospice’s Louise Stone helped the family through a difficult time after mum Zaihda Parveen was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2009. As neuro clinical nurse specialist at the hospice, Louise visited their family home in Ward End throughout Zaihda’s illness. Ghulam Fallee and his brothers Talib and Irfan are so grateful for Louise’s help that they have nominated her for a Birmingham Mail Pride of Nursing Award.

“It all happened so fast,” said Ghulam. “Mum was scared and in pain. She didn’t fully understand what was happening to her and we didn’t know what to do for the best. Then we met Louise.

“When Louise talked to Mum she wasn’t clock-watching or anything. Louise was a good friend to all of us – my father, grandmother and brothers. For days after Louise’s visits, Mum was a different person. She had more confidence.

"And the reassurance Louise gave us that we were doing everything possible made each day that little bit easier."

A typical day at work for Louise means visiting families across Birmingham and the West Midlands to provide support when and where it’s needed.

But 30-year-old Ghulam feels strongly that Louise went “above and beyond” to help his family.

Ghulam said: “No-one understood what Mum had better than Louise, meaning she could do more than just answer our questions – she knew what we were going to ask and what challenges might be coming up soon, so that we could prepare well in advance. She went above and beyond.”

The Fallee family converted one half of their living room into a bedroom for Zaihda and created a bathroom where their garden patio used to be. A special bed was brought in along with other equipment and modifications all designed to make life more comfortable for people living with MND.

“It all came through Louise, on her advice,” said Ghulam. “Down to the smallest details, she’d thought of everything – and it made all the difference. Making these modifications early meant that Mum had a better chance. She lived a more comfortable life for those last six years, without missing out on family life.

After his brothers Irfan and Talib celebrated their weddings in 2013 and 2014, Ghulam married his wife Maria on 6 August 2015. Zaihda died three weeks later, surrounded by her family in the comfort of her own home.

“It means the world to me and my brothers that our mum lived to see each of us married,” said Ghulam. “Louise even popped in after my wedding to congratulate us – and of course, to check Mum had everything she needed. She never let us down.”

Ghulam, who lives with his family in Ward End, nominated Louise for the nursing award after seeing an advertisement in the Birmingham Mail in December. 

“We thought of Louise instantly,” said Ghulam. “She always said she was just doing her job but the thing is, we know in our hearts there was so much more to it than that. What she did for Mum will stay with us forever. I don’t know what we would’ve done without her.”

Now in their second year, the Birmingham Mail Pride of Nursing Awards allow members of the public to thank a nurse who has made a real difference to their family.

Louise, who has been working at John Taylor Hospice for more than 15 years, said she was honoured to have been part of the team that cared for Zaihda – and emphasised that it was a group effort. 

She said: “I met Zaihda very early on in her illness. I feel privileged to have supported her and her wonderful family. When you do a job like this there are moments that stay with you for the rest of your life. It never felt like work when I visited Zaihda. I’m just pleased that I was able to be there for her at the right time.

“And of course, I couldn’t have done any of it without the support of the great team we have here at John Taylor Hospice.”

Clinical business manager at the hospice Jan Hipkiss said: “We’re delighted that Louise has been nominated for a Birmingham Mail Pride of Nursing Award – as a neuro clinical nurse specialist she makes a huge difference to the people she cares for and their families and it’s great to see that someone has chosen to recognise her for that.”

For more information on the care and support we offer at the hospice see www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk/care-and-support