Georgie’s lasting legacy for hospice

Georgia Ferris lived her life “full send”, with no time for doing things half-assed, according to her twin sister Liv. She made the most of the life she’d been given, although it was fleeting.

Georgia, Georgie, Gee, is described as F***n insane, stubborn, headstrong and charitable, by Liv and their mum Robyn. But above all, she was determined.

Georgie passed away in November at age 27 after a long and public battle with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and, even though she is no longer here, she continues to make a huge impact.

While Nelson Tasman Hospice was involved with assisting Georgie for the better part of three years, her final months were spent at Stoke’s hospice facility, a place that Robyn says gave herself and Liv a second family.

“We embraced hospice because the minute you walk through the door you are greeted with love and you’re coming home to a really special part of your family,” Robyn says. “And you know that when you walk through those doors, everything’s going to be okay.”

Gee’s deteriorating health came with many sleepless nights, but rather than dwell and feel sorry for herself, she turned to colouring and then drawing, eventually penning intricate mandalas and works of art herself by hand.

She began drawing pieces for others to frame and then someone suggested she turn them into a colouring book to sell, so that’s what she did. Robyn says the book is a testament to Georgia’s giving side, as she decided to gift it to Nelson Tasman Hospice in perpetuity for them to continue selling as a fundraiser.

“I think that’s what people will remember about Georgia, is how much she wanted to make other people smile, or just to ease some of the pain.”

“And it’s a giggle,” Liv adds of the adults-only book. “If you know Gee you know that everything’s all roses, and it’s all pretty on the outside and there’s a subtle ‘f**k’ in there.”

“There’s definitely two levels to this book,” Robyn says. “There are people who need some time out, and to be able to remove themselves from a situation. Then there’s the fundraising side of it, and knowing that it’s come from someone who has has been through the hospital system and understands.”

Gee’s room at hospice was a place she had full permission to make her own, masking the walls with fairy lights and photos, and even bringing in a mini fridge.

“I had to get a bigger car because we were doing two or three loads backwards and forwards to get her stuff to hospice,” Robyn laughs.

But it’s just another thing the family say makes hospice such a special place.

Liv says, after their time there Gee may be responsible for a huge number of people having “very unhealthy addictions” to Peter Alexander pyjamas. Because she couldn’t go out shopping and was in bed a lot of the time, it was a way she could look and feel better.

“Look good, feel better. That whole saying goes for so many things,” Robyn says. “Whether you’re ill or you’re really struggling mentally or physically, you look good, you feel better. And for her, it was her Peter Alexander pyjamas.”

Gee, always wanting to do “little extra things” for the hospice and staff that gave so much to her, took it upon herself to organise a PJ day for the entire hospice, including a three-judge panel – herself, Robyn and Liv – although Gee had final say, awarding prizes for the best set of pyjamas.

“When you have the CEO of hospice turn up in his pyjamas, and the charge nurse in her pyjamas you know that they really kind of loved her,” Robyn says. “Because not everybody would do that for someone.”

Hospice clinical services manager and clinical psychologist, Dr Lea Galvin, says hospice worked with Gee and her family/friends for a significant period of time to support Gee to “live well”. She says living well with a life-limiting illness involves many different specialists to ensure that the person and their whānau are able to meet their goals.

“Goals can be as diverse as managing pain, travelling to a bucket list destination, buying the perfect Peter Alexander PJs, and, in Gee’s case, living every second with dignity, compassion for others and having a good laugh along the way. Supporting patients and whānau can be hard, we care deeply about the people who need us in the final chapters of their lives and Gee and her family were no exception.

“While Gee is no longer physically with us, she has contributed to how we at NTH understand life and death and she and her family will forever be a part of us.”

Robyn and Liv hope that people will get out and get themselves or their loved one a copy of Gee’s book, which they have officially launched as part of May’s Hands up for Hospice campaign.

“We just want people to buy it and enjoy that legacy that she’s left behind and help her help hospice. We want people to be able to support hospice in Georgia’s name,” Robyn says.

“Everybody wanted to see her live her lifetime in the time that she had left, and she did, she lived a lifetime in 27 years, and this is a way she can keep giving back.”

To order a copy visit the reception at hospice on Suffolk Rd or email ana.fierek@nelsonhospice.org.nz

‘With brave wings she flies.’

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