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Hospice Stories

HospiceDirectory.org featurs letters from families of hospice patients, frontline hospice workers, and volunteers. These real-life accounts provide insight on the hospice concept of care.

You can read these letters in the Family and Professional/Volunteer section of Hospice Stories.

If you had a loved one who received hospice care or if you are a hospice professional or volunteer and would like to share your hospice experience, please e-mail hdadmin@hospicefoundation.org.

Family Stories

Hello,

I really knew nothing about hospice until a friend of mine became suddenly ill with a rare cancer. She was 48. When her oncologist told her it was "ok" to call hospice now, I didn’t even really understand what that meant. But I did know that I was at the end of my rope from trying to find the drugs she needed on a daily basis. It was a nightmare trying to take care of her properly.

What exactly did people do before hospice?? Even with excellent government health insurance, I was shocked at the difficulty in caring for a terminally ill person.

Although I had other friends and co-workers also helping with her care (and their help was such a blessing) NOTHING compares to what hospice did for my friend. From the delivery of all the medicines, the many different kinds of education I received from them, to the nurse that was like an angel. My friend died two years ago, and when I look back on that difficult time, I always return to the tireless help of hospice. I will never forget her nurse. My friend literally, “came to life" when her nurse entered the room.

I could just go on and on about the wonderful help of hospice, and my guess is, so could thousands of others!!

Thank you,

Jan

I always thought I knew what hospice was all about, but until we used hospice services I really had no idea how vital their part was in caring for my mom. The one particular thing that will always stand out in my mind was the night my mom died.

I was blessed to be holding her hand when she died peacefully and in her own bed. It was a terrible winter night, freezing rain and it was 12:15 in the morning. The hospice nurse in charge of our case, drove from home which was 20 miles away. She removed the cath and lovingly bathed her. We were so grateful that my mom's wish to die at home was a reality and were ever so grateful to have hospice care in order to accomplish this.

We would gladly pay the price again because we loved and were loved back and not everyone has the memories we have of a great childhood replete with memories that will last the rest of our days. I thank hospice every day for the loving care they gave mom and for the work they do with so many others. We will never forget these special human beings.

Sincerely,

Toni

I have seen hospice at work in my family several times in the last ten years. My father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given six months to live. We had never dealt with any type of illness in the family before. The wonderful staff at Hospice walked us through it with love and kindness. About a year ago my mother-in-laws’ Alzheimer’s was nearing the end. My father-in-law chose to keep her home and took care of her by himself for years. At 80 years old it was wearing him down. I remembered hospice, but thought it was for cancer patients only.

I called anyway to see if they knew who to call. Hospice came out that very evening. We slept for the first time in days. Mama passed with dignity. I will never be able to express the gratitude for hospice. Seeing the hospice staff at work has let me know there are Angels among us.

Thank You from the Bottom of our Hearts.

The Mason Family

Dear Hospice,

Thanks to you my great – grandmother was able to die peacefully. You
see, she had Alzheimer’s and it was not going well. My grandparents tried to
take care of her and that did not work out and she was getting worse.
Then they took her to a nursing home and there she eventually was moved
to the special ward were she lived for a while and then she died with
two Hospice ladies and my grandparent. Now, my great – grandmother can rest in peace.

Thank you for all you have done. Because of you I even think
about working with you some day. So once again thank you.

Sincerely,

Cole, 13 years old

Professionals/Volunteer Stories

I enjoy being a hospice social worker. I have been with Heartland Hospice for about two years. Yes, you are dealing with people approaching their last stage of life, but it is an honor to be there for them and their family members. Being able to walk with them as they journey down this unknown road has truly been a treasure and a learning experience. I try to bring joy to the life of my clients. One way I do that is by dressing up in costumes for the holidays. Many of my clients get a kick out of my outrageous outfits (family and staff member enjoy them also). Being able to put a smile on their face is truly priceless. Many times the costumes can tear down the barriers, offer comfort and provide a laugh, which is medicine to the soul.

I have truly been blessed with the many experiences I have while working at Heartland. The staff at Heartland has also made the work I do easier because they are so supportive. Hospice has been more than a job, but a ministry that God has given me.

Denise Johnson, MSW
Heartland Healthcare & Hospice

If I could write a book concerning the ministry of a chaplain, it would be entitled, “The patient that stole my heart.” I cannot reveal the patient’s name. But, due to her beauty both inward and outward I would give her the name Rose, fully blossomed yet soon to fade. She was a resident at Good Samaritan Nursing Home who provided her with hospice care. The staff would discuss their problems with her. Rose brightened everyone’s day. I would arrive to minister to her, but instead she would minister to me.
Elvis was her favorite artist, and she wouldn’t let go until she heard an Elvis song one last time. After listening to her favorite crooner, she passed on. I salute her and family and most of all God for allowing me to get to know her in short amount of time.

Rev. Curtis Bowling, Chaplin,
New Hope Foundation

It was a pleasure for me and the nurse to take care of our gifted friend who had a brain tumor, which we did for many days. Our friend had worked many years at a hospital as an electrician/custodian, but his love was drawing and painting. On several occasions he will bring out his drawings and show them to his visitors or to anyone. The gifted friend did not give up, even though he knew his prognosis was fatal. He continued to stay busy and dream of the day that he could paint again, even though he had lost dexterity in his hands.

The staff stayed with the patient until the mother returned from her own chemotherapy treatment. The staff became the supportive service for the mother and other family members. This need of support for patient, mother and other family members became a vision for the owner to establish Priority Hospice. As the mother condition worsened with the chemotherapy treatment she was unable to care for her son, my gifted friend was placed in a nursing home with hospice and later expired.
The family continued to call and visit the hospice agency and donated supplies and equipment to the agency in the memory of their beloved son and brother.

Chicquita Martin, RN,
Priority Hospice

Over the years, many persons, on learning that I am a hospice physician, develop a pained expression and ask, “How can you do that kind of work? Isn’t it awfully depressing?” This always prompts me to smile, which may be inappropriate for such a serious question, yet I have never found hospice work depressing. On the contrary, I feel that there is so much that can be done to help people coping with a serious condition that the rewards to all concerned…patient, family and caregivers…can produce a great deal of relief and even satisfaction. I know that other hospice workers: nurses, social workers, chaplains, therapists of various sorts and especially volunteers feel the same as I do. To watch pain be replaced by comfort, anxiety by relaxation, insomnia by sleep, anger and fear by equanimity…these are the rewards hospice workers experience. Certainly we all grieve the deaths of patients we have come to know and love. We grieve with the family and friends who have given so much to their loved one. Yet our sense of loss is tempered by the positive satisfaction derived from knowing that we made a difference. We helped to make things better for the patient and the family.

William M. Lamers Jr., M.D.

	Hospice Directory Monday, February 08, 2010 About Hospice Choosing Hospice Who is Eligible for Hospice Paying for Hospice: Medicare / Medicaid / More Options Hospice Stories Hospice Volunteers Caregivers' Corner Frequently Asked Questions State Hospice Organizations Canadian/Provincial Hospice Organizations About Us Directory Members Registration Join Login Locate a Hospice Country State/Territory* County City Zip Code Hospice Name Sponsored by Hospice Foundation of America with additional sponsors The Hospice Career Center Home Hospice Directory About Hospice Hospice Stories Hospice Stories HospiceDirectory.org featurs letters from families of hospice patients, frontline hospice workers, and volunteers. These real-life accounts provide insight on the hospice concept of care. You can read these letters in the Family and Professional/Volunteer section of Hospice Stories. If you had a loved one who received hospice care or if you are a hospice professional or volunteer and would like to share your hospice experience, please e-mail hdadmin@hospicefoundation.org. Family Stories Hello, I really knew nothing about hospice until a friend of mine became suddenly ill with a rare cancer. She was 48. When her oncologist told her it was "ok" to call hospice now, I didn’t even really understand what that meant. But I did know that I was at the end of my rope from trying to find the drugs she needed on a daily basis. It was a nightmare trying to take care of her properly. What exactly did people do before hospice?? Even with excellent government health insurance, I was shocked at the difficulty in caring for a terminally ill person. Although I had other friends and co-workers also helping with her care (and their help was such a blessing) NOTHING compares to what hospice did for my friend. From the delivery of all the medicines, the many different kinds of education I received from them, to the nurse that was like an angel. My friend died two years ago, and when I look back on that difficult time, I always return to the tireless help of hospice. I will never forget her nurse. My friend literally, “came to life" when her nurse entered the room. I could just go on and on about the wonderful help of hospice, and my guess is, so could thousands of others!! Thank you, Jan Back to top I always thought I knew what hospice was all about, but until we used hospice services I really had no idea how vital their part was in caring for my mom. The one particular thing that will always stand out in my mind was the night my mom died. I was blessed to be holding her hand when she died peacefully and in her own bed. It was a terrible winter night, freezing rain and it was 12:15 in the morning. The hospice nurse in charge of our case, drove from home which was 20 miles away. She removed the cath and lovingly bathed her. We were so grateful that my mom's wish to die at home was a reality and were ever so grateful to have hospice care in order to accomplish this. We would gladly pay the price again because we loved and were loved back and not everyone has the memories we have of a great childhood replete with memories that will last the rest of our days. I thank hospice every day for the loving care they gave mom and for the work they do with so many others. We will never forget these special human beings. Sincerely, Toni Back to top I have seen hospice at work in my family several times in the last ten years. My father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given six months to live. We had never dealt with any type of illness in the family before. The wonderful staff at Hospice walked us through it with love and kindness. About a year ago my mother-in-laws’ Alzheimer’s was nearing the end. My father-in-law chose to keep her home and took care of her by himself for years. At 80 years old it was wearing him down. I remembered hospice, but thought it was for cancer patients only. I called anyway to see if they knew who to call. Hospice came out that very evening. We slept for the first time in days. Mama passed with dignity. I will never be able to express the gratitude for hospice. Seeing the hospice staff at work has let me know there are Angels among us. Thank You from the Bottom of our Hearts. The Mason Family Back to top Dear Hospice, Thanks to you my great – grandmother was able to die peacefully. You see, she had Alzheimer’s and it was not going well. My grandparents tried to take care of her and that did not work out and she was getting worse. Then they took her to a nursing home and there she eventually was moved to the special ward were she lived for a while and then she died with two Hospice ladies and my grandparent. Now, my great – grandmother can rest in peace. Thank you for all you have done. Because of you I even think about working with you some day. So once again thank you. Sincerely, Cole, 13 years old Back to top Professionals/Volunteer Stories I enjoy being a hospice social worker. I have been with Heartland Hospice for about two years. Yes, you are dealing with people approaching their last stage of life, but it is an honor to be there for them and their family members. Being able to walk with them as they journey down this unknown road has truly been a treasure and a learning experience. I try to bring joy to the life of my clients. One way I do that is by dressing up in costumes for the holidays. Many of my clients get a kick out of my outrageous outfits (family and staff member enjoy them also). Being able to put a smile on their face is truly priceless. Many times the costumes can tear down the barriers, offer comfort and provide a laugh, which is medicine to the soul. I have truly been blessed with the many experiences I have while working at Heartland. The staff at Heartland has also made the work I do easier because they are so supportive. Hospice has been more than a job, but a ministry that God has given me. Denise Johnson, MSW Heartland Healthcare & Hospice Back to top If I could write a book concerning the ministry of a chaplain, it would be entitled, “The patient that stole my heart.” I cannot reveal the patient’s name. But, due to her beauty both inward and outward I would give her the name Rose, fully blossomed yet soon to fade. She was a resident at Good Samaritan Nursing Home who provided her with hospice care. The staff would discuss their problems with her. Rose brightened everyone’s day. I would arrive to minister to her, but instead she would minister to me. Elvis was her favorite artist, and she wouldn’t let go until she heard an Elvis song one last time. After listening to her favorite crooner, she passed on. I salute her and family and most of all God for allowing me to get to know her in short amount of time. Rev. Curtis Bowling, Chaplin, New Hope Foundation Back to top It was a pleasure for me and the nurse to take care of our gifted friend who had a brain tumor, which we did for many days. Our friend had worked many years at a hospital as an electrician/custodian, but his love was drawing and painting. On several occasions he will bring out his drawings and show them to his visitors or to anyone. The gifted friend did not give up, even though he knew his prognosis was fatal. He continued to stay busy and dream of the day that he could paint again, even though he had lost dexterity in his hands. The staff stayed with the patient until the mother returned from her own chemotherapy treatment. The staff became the supportive service for the mother and other family members. This need of support for patient, mother and other family members became a vision for the owner to establish Priority Hospice. As the mother condition worsened with the chemotherapy treatment she was unable to care for her son, my gifted friend was placed in a nursing home with hospice and later expired. The family continued to call and visit the hospice agency and donated supplies and equipment to the agency in the memory of their beloved son and brother. Chicquita Martin, RN, Priority Hospice Back to top Over the years, many persons, on learning that I am a hospice physician, develop a pained expression and ask, “How can you do that kind of work? Isn’t it awfully depressing?” This always prompts me to smile, which may be inappropriate for such a serious question, yet I have never found hospice work depressing. On the contrary, I feel that there is so much that can be done to help people coping with a serious condition that the rewards to all concerned…patient, family and caregivers…can produce a great deal of relief and even satisfaction. I know that other hospice workers: nurses, social workers, chaplains, therapists of various sorts and especially volunteers feel the same as I do. To watch pain be replaced by comfort, anxiety by relaxation, insomnia by sleep, anger and fear by equanimity…these are the rewards hospice workers experience. Certainly we all grieve the deaths of patients we have come to know and love. We grieve with the family and friends who have given so much to their loved one. Yet our sense of loss is tempered by the positive satisfaction derived from knowing that we made a difference. We helped to make things better for the patient and the family. William M. Lamers Jr., M.D. Back to top
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