When you hear the word hospice, it often stirs fear, sadness – even dread. For many families, it feels like the closing chapter of hope. But for Aria’s mum, Chrissy, stepping through the doors of Bear Cottage brought something entirely different: comfort, compassion, and the precious gift of time together as a family.

On World Hospice Day, we take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of hospice care – not just as a place for end-of-life support, but as a place where love, dignity and life are honoured in every moment. Aria’s story is a powerful reminder of what that care can truly mean.

“Eyes of blue, a heart of gold and wisdom beyond her years – Aria was known for both her sass and her thoughtfulness. She was a doting big sister to Lucas, with an infectious enthusiasm for almost everything she tried. She was discerning for a five-year-old – she didn’t suffer fools or give herself away easily. But if you were lucky enough to be one of her people, she loved you fiercely and expectantly.

Aria was four years old when she was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and so began an 18-month fight which tragically ended with her passing away at Bear Cottage in February 2024.

As an oncology family, we had a lot of hope as Aria’s initial prognosis was quite positive. Diagnosed in September 2022, she responded well to the intensive phase of treatment but was then diagnosed with HLH and LCH. From June 2023 to February 2024, she lived in Camperdown Ward at Westmead Children's Hospital with no reprieve. It was hell – months of isolation, confusion and fear.

When the doctors told us there was nothing more they could do and Aria would be moving to palliative care, we were desperate to get her out of the hospital. She hated it there, but her medical needs were so complex it was a challenge. With help from her team, we got her home – with daily visits back to the hospital – and even planned a local holiday. But on the day we were due to leave for the trip, Aria became too unstable to be away from the hospital.

It became clear we couldn’t support her on our own at home, but she had made me promise she wouldn’t have to sleep at the hospital ever again – and I couldn’t break that promise.

One of her beautiful nurses suggested Bear Cottage, but the thought of a children’s hospice felt overwhelmingly daunting. Bear Cottage – a place where children went to say goodbye – sounded pretty scary, to be honest. I was hesitant, but I remember she said:

"I will call Bear Cottage. Aria will be safe. They will look after all of you. You need to go there."

Our family will be forever grateful to her for that advice.

I remember pulling up to the gates that Wednesday night in February and shaking while pressing the intercom – but our fears were met with incredible warmth and understanding. In that moment, the heaviness of our circumstances began to lift. The amazing team at Bear Cottage transformed those impossibly dark moments into manageable ones.

For the first time in a long while, Aria wasn't a cancer patient; she was a little girl, allowed to be a child again. When she saw her room, her tiny squeal of joy brought tears to my eyes. No hospital smells, no machines – just a beautiful pink bed and a teddy with her name on it. The freedom to leave her room whenever she wanted felt like pure magic!

We spent joyful moments together as a family – loved ones visiting, laughing in the gardens, meeting “wolf dogs,” art therapy sessions, and wheelchair races in the hallway with her little brother, Lucas. Bear Cottage gave Aria the chance to enjoy life beyond the walls of the hospital – she even had her first real bath in 18 months in the “mermaid room,” as she called it.

Bear Cottage surrounded Aria and our family with love and safety, allowing us to create cherished memories free from the burdens of constant beeping machines and medical trauma. Her beautiful smile returned, and she was happy.

Since Aria’s passing, we've returned to Bear Cottage for various events – Remembering Day, Dad Support Weekends, and Superhero Parties. It may seem peculiar to some to revisit the place where you lost your child, but for us, it feels like coming home.”

“As a bereaved mum, I will always see Bear Cottage as a sanctuary – it held us and loved us during the most difficult time of our lives.”

#WorldHospiceDay2025