A TERMINALLY-ILL 60-year-old mother has praised a home from hospital scheme run by the Red Cross.

Marion Robinson, from Ipswich, suffers from a terminal lung disease and was discharged from Ipswich hospital in September, 2012.

She has restricted mobility and uses a home oxygen supply 24 hours a day.

But shortly after arriving back home Marion, whose three children live over 300 miles away, received a visit from Sabina Cooper, a Red Cross volunteer who has been volunteering with the service for over two years.

Marion said: “Sabina has done so much for me.

“The thought of being at home and alone was really daunting.

“But she has given me the support and encouragement I needed all along.

“We often share a laugh and a giggle, which is so important to do when you’re suffering from a serious illness.

“Sabina keeps my spirits up, and by the time she leaves I feel I can cope with my illness better.”

The Red Cross home from hospital service provides short-term support to anyone who needs help or reassurance to get back to their normal routine after a stay in hospital.

Since it started in 2009 the scheme has supported 1,438 people in Ipswich and the surrounding areas.

Sabina said: “When I first met her, Marion had not only lost her independence but she had nothing to smile about.

“She felt lost and helpless, dependent on others for everything.”

Over the next few weeks Sabina helped Marion to make a few small changes in her life which gave her back some of her independence.

Marion added: “I am in the last stages of my illness and am dying.

“I don’t know how long I’ve got left, but knowing that I can rely on Sabina’s friendship has made the uncertainty easier to deal with.”

To find out more about volunteering with or using the Red Cross home from hospital service call 01473 702485.