A HUGE smile lights up Jeanette Templeton's face when she talks about her son Jonathan.

She proudly leafs through photographs of him and laughs out loud when she tells stories about his love of cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

Diagnosed at birth with fluid on the brain, epilepsy and cerebral palsy, Jonathan's short life came to an end in December.

He was only 20 and after years of going in and out of hospital, he spent his final months at the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.

"He had the nurses wrapped around his little finger," she says.

"He was always smiling, regardless of how much pain he was in. I couldn't say he had one favourite nurse, he loved them all."

In the final months of his life, Jonathan particularly enjoyed using the hydro bath at the hospice; the jets of hot water alleviated his symptoms and soothed aches and pains.

When the new hospice is built on a site adjacent to Bellahouston Park, it will have a hydrotherapy pool.

"I was ecstatic when I heard they would have a pool at the new hospice," says Jeanette.

"When Jonathan was well he sometimes used a bigger pool and it was amazing. He couldn't walk but if you took him to a hydro pool he could go in, I'd go with him, and he could stand. It was as if he was walking.

"The facilities at the new hospice are astounding."

Hydrotherapy for patients with advanced illnesses can have profound beneficial effects, not only physically but in emotional wellbeing.

It can increase mobility, reduce pain and muscle spasms and improve joint movement as well as increase fitness, improve balance, co-ordination and boost self-confidence.

When a hospice team, led by clinical adviser Libby Milton, looked at the possibility of a hydrotherapy pool when they were planning for the new build, they found that 44% of patients would benefit.

"After careful consideration of the costs and benefits, we decided this facility has much to offer our patients and families. We are really excited about having a facility in-house and the huge gains patients and their families will reap," says Libby.

Patients with physical limitations and mobility issues can exercise at the pool, and it also allows families to join them in therapeutic play.

"What makes a hydrotherapy pool different from a regular swimming pool is the air and water temperature, which is much warmer.

"It is one of the world's oldest therapeutic mediums," explains physiotherapist Frank Gilroy.

"It is a fantastic method of allowing patients to exercise without load bearing, but still gives them a good workout and improves flexibility and strength.

"Patients enjoy working in the pool and having some fun while exercising, which is very important."

ANOTHER benefit of the pool is in the treatment of younger people with palliative care needs.

As part of the hospice's commitment to developing its service for younger people, the clinical team visited Robin House, a children's hospice, which has a hydrotherapy pool.

Staff there spoke enthusiastically about the benefits of the pool and encouraged the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice to include one in the plans.

"Jonathan had such complex needs," adds Jeanette.

"Before the hospice stepped in, I had Jonathan at home for three weeks and the family was falling apart; it was 24/7 care.

"There was nothing out there for young adults."

The new facilities will give the hospice the chance to help more people like Jonathan, too old for a children's hospice but too young for adult care.

"People think a hospice is just a building but I've worked with so many different people, from the clinical nurses visiting us at home to Jonathan being a patient and the family support helping all of us," she says.

Jeanette, her husband Jamie and Jonathan's younger brother Mark all received help from the family support team before Jonathan's admittance to the hospice, his time there and after he died.

"The hospice takes away all the stresses and strains. The biggest thing is they listen.

"I'm still getting help from the hospice, including counselling from the family support team. There are times when there is so much going on in your life and nothing makes sense."

Jeanette stayed with Jonathan when he was at the hospice, and the family had fun together playing in the Butterfly Room, equipped for children, where they organised a Christmas party in October when they realised Jonathan wouldn't be with them by the end of December.

NOW Jonathan is remembered in the Tribute Tree, a donation has been made to the fund and his name - Jonathan Templeton SpongeBob in this case - is engraved on a leaf and placed on the tree.

Jeanette is involved in fundraising events for the Brick by Brick appeal, backed by the Evening Times, to raise money for the new hospice.

"I want to say to people, do you know what they do at the hospice? Have you seen what goes on?" she says. "It is so important for people to realise the work they do."

angela.mcmanus @eveningtimes.co.uk