Misty

Jodi says: "Denise’s story resonated deeply for me but perhaps not in a way one would imagine. As a pet portrait artist, I’ve had a life-long love of animals and when Denise shared the story of her time with Misty--I felt it was a story that had to be shared.

Denise is an NHS staff nurse in East Sussex who, during the pandemic, has been doing difficult work managing Covid-related illness in acute inpatient psychiatric hospitals with patients experiencing severe and enduring mental illness. Before the pandemic, during her work in palliative nursing in a hospice, she developed a unique and happy connection to a resident stray cat turned NHS hero named Misty."

Denise says: "Misty was our beloved hospice cat who sadly died a few months ago. She was a very special girl who brought comfort to so many during their final days.

Misty decided to make the hospice her forever home over 15 years ago. She turned up as a stray, hanging around outside...a patient had started to feed her on her daily visits. Sadly the patient passed away but Misty continued to visit looking for her friend. She made the hospice her forever home and she had this quiet gift and ability to share warmth and kindness.

I feel special to have a painting of my beautiful and wise friend...I miss seeing her, so this is everything."