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"Comfort and Support at the End of
Life"
(Published in the 1/22/03 issue of Inside the Institute
written by Christine Cleary endep.)
HealthCare Dimensions offers compassionate care for patients and families synthroid.
Complete Story>>>
Family members express their feelings
about hospice…
"Words cannot express the appreciation I have for the support and
encouragement our family received from your wonderful organization. We felt
capable of caring for him at home through the last stages of his … illness –
and, he died surrounded by loved ones. For that we are extremely grateful."
"Of all the decisions we made for G. the one decision we will never regret
is having HealthCare Dimensions Hospice for Kids help us care for her at
home. The support of the entire family through the last stages of her
illness was invaluable. The bereavement group that Hospice for Kids
sponsored helped us cope with her death."
"The Hospice Team made an incredible difference for our mother and for us.
They taught us how to care for her and in doing so allowed us to feel both
comfortable and confident with medications and baths and just being close to
her. The day of her death the social worker stayed with us and guided us
through the day. She was a comforting presence for M. and the family."
"I would like to thank all of you at hospice for the wonderful care and
kindness shown to my husband and also to me. Our nurse, social worker and
chaplain made such a difference."
A letter from the wife of a recent patient…
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful hospice services
provided to my husband during the last two months of his life. We were
especially pleased with his nurse whose calm and caring manner carried us
through some almost unbearably difficult times. She was an effective
advocate, helping us to persuade our health insurance company to pay for
night-time aides which allowed me to get some needed sleep so that I could
care for my husband during the day and evening. She was a true partner in
assisting me in caring for my husband at home. My husband absolutely loved
her.
In addition our Social Worker provided me with the emotional support I
needed during this time when I was caring not only for my husband, but also
for my elderly mother-in-law. I looked forward to her weekly visits and
appreciated her availability by phone whenever needed.
Finally, we both felt blessed with the help provided by one of your
volunteers who, I understand, is now one of your chaplains. He provided
comfort and emotional support for me, physical labor to move my husband’s
computer and spiritual guidance in planning my husband’s memorial service.
He also agreed to officiate at the service. He was truly a man for all
needs.”
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Jacqui's Story
Click on an image to view larger size.
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Jacqui was four years old in March 1999 when she was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma - a malignant brain tumor. Her parents were told there was no cure. Jacqui was at home with her mother, her father, and her two-year-old sister when she entered Hospice for Kids in August 1999. By this time Jacqui could no longer speak clearly, had lost the ability to walk, and was slowly losing the ability to use her hands. Jacqui was an amazing artist and she
used her artwork to express her feelings when she could not talk any longer. |
| Hospice for Kids did an assessment of Jacqui's condition and made recommendations to her parents for symptom management, social
work services for the family (especially Jacqui's younger sister)
and they explained the volunteer and pastoral services available to them. The Hospice for Kids
team also listened to what Jacqui's parents wanted - that her life remain as normal as possible and that Jacqui
do as much as she was able. In other words, they wanted her to live her life to the fullest extent possible. |
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Accordingly, Jacqui spent her days with her parents and her sister, going to her pre-school and doing other things that she enjoyed - eating ice cream, drawing, and watching movies
(especially her favorite, The Wizard of Oz). The Hospice for Kids
team managed her care and facilitated various activities for Jacqui and her family. |
| As time went by Jacqui became harder to understand and eventually lost her ability to draw. Jacqui
would use her mother's hands for her drawing and
coloring. She managed to control an art project by directing the person doing the task for her. As Jacqui's condition continued to deteriorate the Hospice for Kids
team was supportive of Jacqui and her family. |
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Hospice for Kids made sure that the last two days of Jacqui's life were filled with things she was able to do - going to see Peter Pan, watching movies, and having a clown come to her home. The team was privileged to be present for some of those precious hours and to spend time with Jacqui's family. |
| The night of Jacqui's death she became unresponsive and was lying in bed with her parents holding her. Jacqui had a nurse at her bedside as well as a social worker. Jacqui's paternal grandparents, her maternal grandmother, her maternal and paternal aunts and uncles, close family friends, and the family's minister were all there. Jacqui slowly moved through that final doorway and when she died everyone held hands and sang "Amazing Grace", Jacqui's favorite bed time song that her mother sang to her every night. Jacqui died peacefully at home, surrounded by everyone who loved her so very much. |
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This is what Hospice for Kids provides for the dying children and their families who come to us for assistance and support. |
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