HOSPICE PRINCE EDWARD STORIES
Recently, we had the privilege of caring for Granny Marj. Like many of our residents, she was nervous about joining us at Hospice Prince Edward. Granny Marj lived in the same home from the day she was born until she came to live with us. Thanks to generous donors like you, we were able to care for her in the warmth of a home setting. Receiving this message from her daughter Jan meant the world to us:
“Mom is LOVING her time at HPE!!! This is the happiest she has been for a long time. She is free of pain, she is sleeping well, she is getting such great care and friendship, and is loving all of the chocolate milk and ice cream. When I visited her today, she was shiny as a new penny and happy as a lark. We were able to talk about funny things in the past, interesting things in the present, and the goodness of things to come.”
During her stay, Granny Marg celebrated her 98th Birthday. In pre-COVID times, all of her family and friends would have been welcome to visit and celebrate together, there would have been a big party. Instead, our staff brought her balloons, read her dozens of emails and faxes from her loved ones, posted countless cards in her room, answered calls for her all day (including from Mitch Panciuk, Mayor of Belleville!), delivered flowers, and shared her cake. We did everything in our power to make her last days special.
“Words cannot express my feelings, nor my thanks, for all your help. Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered. If the world had more people like you in it, it would be a better place. You do make a difference.”
-Client
"Thank you for making our family feel so comfortable and welcomed. Mom spent her last days surrounded by people who although were not "family" truly cared & treated us like family. It was a precious time for me to be able to spend as much time as I could by Mom's side, even those rough nights where I slept bent over the edge of her bed because she wouldn't let go of my hand. Your thoughtfulness and compassion during our time of need made what was a very hard long day one that was not only bearable but relaxing.
I am extremely thankful Heather stopped me before I ran out the door after mom passed, so that I was able to walk out of the house with Mom and spend those last few seconds with her before she was ‘taken from us’ for good. Serving up snacks, tea & coffee through the night as we all sat by Mom's side waiting for her to let go is something we very much appreciated as it was a long day for all of us.
I will never forget that last conversation I had with Mom on that Tuesday morning and I have the wonderful staff at Hospice to thank for that opportunity. I could hear her Johnny Reid CD playing in the background; to know that she was ‘having a party’ and even had a brief conversation with my son before hanging up the phone is truly a priceless moment for me."
For some clients, personalized comfort comes in the form of spiritual care. During the height of the pandemic last spring, the following email was sent to our Board of Directors:
“I know there are many 'firsts' at hospice. I think what I witnessed this afternoon is one of those. Our resident in Room 2 will not be with us much longer - his son is here from out of Province. This afternoon the Son asked if I'd like to join him and his Dad in the room for his Dad to receive Last Rites from the Priest here in town. That in itself is not a first I'm sure...but to stand in Room 2 with the Son and Father, window open and the Priest delivering last rights from the balcony through that window was nothing short of special.
If we ever question what we offer here at hospice to a person's final journey - we shouldn’t.”
-Staff Member
Fran Burrough sits down to talk about her experience with hospice as a client, volunteer, and caregiver:
“Without the services of hospice, I would have been totally lost”
“Thank you for making our family's time today so peaceful, comfortable and welcoming. Even though my Dad didn't spend a lot of time there, it was precious time to our family. Your thoughtfulness and compassion during our time of need made what was a very hard day one that was not only bearable, but very relaxing and unrushed.
The ability to spend as much time with Dad, both before and after he passed, and even after the funeral took him on his final drive through the County, was so appreciated. Being able to talk as a family after he passed and gather our thoughts while we enjoyed a cup of coffee in the living room, remembering his life, was just what we needed.
I know my Dad was the first person to be welcomed through your doors and into your care. I hope the families that follow us through this wonderful facility will find the calm, peaceful and respectful place for their loved ones too."
-Community Member
“Our family lost a wonderful sister this morning and as tough as it was, it was made so much easier to handle with the wonderful hospice home and the excellent caring staff. From our family we say thank you for making the journey a pleasant one.”
-Community Member
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