Tag Archives: survival

WHY HOSPICE, WHY NOW?

There is a question suggested for hospice staff to consider when they talk with people about hospice services.  “Why hospice, why now?”  Ask yourself, what makes this moment in time the reason someone might decide on hospice; what about this … Continue reading

Posted in advocacy; patient rights; hospice nurse, end of life care | Tagged , | 3 Comments

WHAT AN OVERCOMER LOOKS LIKE

Ettie never told me that “My mission in life is not merely to survive; but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.”  (Maya Angelou).  But she had lived this… She thrived. … Continue reading

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GRADUATION DAY

Difficult to escape from my day job, I find myself honing in on statements while I am entertaining myself in the evening.  Such as from the movie Beginners, when the son says, “You’re not getting better, there is no stage … Continue reading

Posted in hope, loss | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

HEROES IN LIFE

I awaken this morning and pass the WWI medals hanging in my hallway, remembering it is Veteran’s Day, commemorating the morning of November 11th, 1918, “Armistice Day”. That was the morning when the church bells tolled across Europe and America … Continue reading

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THE HEART STEALERS

I ducked my head under a canopy of gnarled and overloaded candy-pink rhododendron branches as I came up the sagging steps to the front door and rang the bell.  I waited. After a bit, an elderly woman answered, breathless and slightly flustered from … Continue reading

Posted in end of life care, hospice story | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW, IS LOVE…

At times, I am caught off guard by a word or a gesture.  Today, a group of numbers stunned me for a long moment.  I cradled Sara’s arm while I took her blood pressure, and saw the blue-black tattoo along … Continue reading

Posted in death bed vigil, hospice story | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments