Friends Hospice

These are some of the stories of the people of Friends Hospice.

“Lee”

A man in his 50’s, and his wife, who were devastated by the diagnosis of a rare and highly aggressive cancer just 4 weeks before. The disease was destroying a strong, still young body and they did not want to spend his last few days in the hospital.

Before he came home we had the equipment and medication needed to keep him comfortable in the house. His wife was supported to sit with him and share the memories of their life together.

“Samuel”

Wanted to go home to his own house. Bed bound by end-stage illness and living alone, the hospital would not discharge him. His brother felt he could not bring him home to the tiny apartment which housed his large family - Samuel would have to go to a facility for care. Arrangements for an admission were made.

At the last minute, Samuel’s brother called the hospice back. Could the hospice help him bring Samuel home to the house where he wanted to be? With the support of the hospice team, Samuel’s brother stayed with him at the house, assisted by hospice aides and other family members. Samuel’s practice of Islam is honored in his home and at his death.

“George”

An elderly gentleman, being cared for by his wife and grown children, has become bed bound by a past stroke, heart disease and repeated infections. He has stopped eating, cannot hold a conversation and his doctor feels he cannot survive surgery to address the source of the infections. The family calls in hospice.

Hospice team members come frequently - to provide personal care, address any symptoms, to counsel and support. A hospice volunteer comes and reads to George from an old diary he kept of his families younger life. Responding to the increased attention and activity, George is less confused, more interactive and slowly starts to eat again. The hospice staff start getting him out of bed.

After more signs of progress, the hospice team starts physical therapy and within weeks George greets the spring by walking to the porch with a walker and his therapist. The hospice team prepares and completes a discharge plan for George with continued plans for physical therapy from a home care agency. Weeks later the family brings George to the hospice offices - completing their desire to make a hospice visit in reverse to see the team members who had cared for them.

“Flora”

A young woman who had been traumatized years ago when she had been imprisoned and tortured by a serial killer from whom she eventually escaped. Her life became a life on the streets, of addiction and eventually HIV and liver disease. After 15 years of fighting addiction and disease her body cannot fight anymore.  Her life is drawing to a close. Her restlessness and need for freedom prevent her from accepting institutional care. Because she has no address or caregiver, and an active addiction, hospices will not care for her—except for Friends Hospice.

While she remains on the streets, the staff of Friends Hospice meet her and provide medications, Ensure for nutrition, and our counsel and support as she decides how to live each day. Eventually she agrees to try living in a women’s shelter.  She gives the hospice chaplain a tour of her small single room, cot and wardrobe—as if it were a luxurious apartment. She makes friends with the shelter staff and other residents, even as she continues to decline. One day she can’t get out of her room anymore. The hospice team members come more frequently to see that she is comfortable. The shelter staff know they can, and do, call Friends Hospice team members if she needs anything at any time of the day or night. When she cannot rise from her bed, a Friends Hospice volunteer comes to stay with her through the night, sitting at the end of her bed, providing comfort and care.  A woman, still young, who was sweet and caring despite the turmoil of her life, dies quietly and comfortably under the quilts and care of hospice staff.