Thank you all

[pattyjo, MSN, RN]

Just a message to all of you who work in hospice care:

Last week, my MIL died 13 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At that time, she was told she had "6-8 months" Clearly those docs didn't know who they were dealing with!! In the time she had, she enjoyed her family, her faith, bingo and travelling. She crocheted baby blankets for moms who didn't have much, and she worked on accepting her fate. She spent the last 3 weeks of her life here with us and did well until about 5 days prior to her death. We had a nurse from hospice come; she opened the case, got us oxygen, a bed, meds if needed and assigned us "our" nurse. We never got to meet her because my MIL died that night. Her sister came downstairs as my husband and I were getting ready for work, and found that she had peacefully slept away. Why am I telling you this, when it's clear we didn't have that much contact with hospice? Because the "on call" nurse came right to our house, she took the burden of calling our doctor and the coroner from us and let us sit and grieve together. She looked at pictures of our family, listened to some really silly stories, got the priest and a nun (both volunteers with hospice) and was so abundantly kind to my husband's aunt that it took my breath away. She helped us with funeral home calls and she stayed with us until we were ready to let her go. Before she walked into our house, she was a stranger; she became a gift to us.

I hope you are all proud of the work you do; I am so very grateful

Patty

[jsteine1]

Just a message to all of you who work in hospice care:

Last week, my MIL died 13 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

I hope you are all proud of the work you do; I am so very grateful

Patty

How very generous of you to write this at such a difficult time. I manage a hospice and am so proud of what we do. I also had the benefit of hospice care for several family members over the last several years and feel exactly the way you do. Best to you and yours, PattyJo