‘Come full circle’, a term which can be used to mean returning to a past position or situation, especially in a way to be inevitable. This may be a good description for a young college student, Phoenix, whom has followed in his parent’s footsteps by joining the Butterwick Hospice family, working on reception at our Stockton site!

Phoenix, a Bede College student, is volunteering every Tuesday at Butterwick Hospice as part of his Public Services course. Our young volunteer has been working with us since February of this year, but he has a lot of catching up to do if he wants to emulate his parents’ history at Butterwick.

Jen and Michael Plews, the parents of Phoenix, met each other working at Butterwick Hospice at our Children’s Inpatient Unit in 1999. Michael was a part of the first group of staff when the Children’s Hospice opened in 1998 as he is a qualified Nursery Nurse. Just a few months later, Jen joined the team as a Health Care Assistant. Jen is still part of our Children’s Hospice team to this day, providing 26 years’ worth of compassion and care.

After an evening of karaoke after work, Jen and Michael’s relationship blossomed. Which, four years later, led to them having their first child, Phoenix. He “was known as the first official Butterwick Baby as both myself and his Dad, Michael, were working at Butterwick during my pregnancy and when he was born. Phoenix first visited the Hospice and met Mary Butterwick when he just a few weeks old.” – Jen Plews

So, as it seems, Phoenix’s story has indeed come full circle, with his parents meeting at Butterwick Hospice, and young Phoenix being known as the “first official Butterwick baby”, to now volunteering at the same Hospice. Thank you, Phoenix, for your time and support, plus a big appreciation to Michael and Jen for your many years at Butterwick Hospice!