When you’re unwell, you want some sense of normality: 5 things I’ve learned working with people who are living with a terminal illness

This year, Liverpool's Marie Curie helper is 5 years old, service manager Christine O'Sullivan looks back on the five things she learned - from lifelong disease patient support to volunteers they have time to help them .

There are many isolated people in society. They may have a nice family, but they are not always at home

Our support volunteers can provide a small company offering several hours a week so that people can chat with someone who thinks they can drink tea and trust. "

"Our assistant volunteers are important for people to share inner thoughts and feelings, especially when they can not open their hearts to family and friends because they are worried or worried We will provide a secret.

To have a legitimate person, you can talk about something as well as their illness. Our volunteers are about the same as their family members. "

"Recently the gentleman said to me:" I like your service, you mean I do not think it is a bag of symptoms "

Our volunteers told us how they took people out of local parks and stores, saw old albums, sang with them, even about politics.

They may be talking about last week's "Coronation Street" drama and Everton's weekend performance - this is normal.

"We are always trying to find the right match between volunteers and the people they support.When you are not thinking about it, two people who do not know well can know each other and share it .

I clearly remember our 20-year old volunteer Chelsea. She sucks fresh air like an old widow, Aina, she supports. Chelsea brings her out every week to do what she has not done for years - just go to McDonald's! Despite their different age, they are still going very well. "

"We can have a positive impact on someone's life if we keep in touch with others, spend them a little time, and help them in some meaningful way .

As part of this service, I experienced many exciting and moving moments. In collaboration with the great volunteers, I saw many people facing the disease with such courage and dignity. "

People with end stage diseases usually know some degree of diagnosis. But they may not think too much or maybe not to talk about it. Some people with end stage diseases feel difficult to get side effects from diseases and treatments, such as hair loss and inconvenience. However, they may accept the overall situation. Please listen to your family and friends as much as possible without disturbing or trying to change your mind. At the moment, refusal may be the only management method. This will make us feel like we can control more what is happening to ourselves. As their condition gets worse, their attitudes may change and they may speak frankly. Please do not treat denial as good or evil.

For me, health is the only one who has the right to complain. Without the death of a loved one, a terminal illness, or any other terrible tragedy, you can control everything. If you control it, you can fix it. Where is the value of the complaint? My process is not to complain, rather to evaluate the problem, find a solution, and start a crime. I am an aggressive player, but I appeal that I am defending. When people make keynote speeches, especially in the business world, they talk about 'moments' they know they made. I dislike doing this. I think that this is unfair. They tell you that these things are unfair because it increases expectations. It says you should know when these moments will occur in your own life. For them it seems they are useful or even "cool", but in reality, this is not the case. It's not. They have hindsight, prospects and choose that moment