Open arms, the caring support of family and peace of mind at the end of life.
When Joan Fiddler’s husband Jim moved into the Foothills Country Hospice more than a year into his battle with a rare cancer, it meant comfort and relief in his final days.
Joan says it was the first time in a while she felt she could breathe easy. For their family, it was an opportunity to focus on what matters most – spending time with Jim during his final days.
“They welcomed us with open arms and they provided us with emotional support, spiritual support, meals,” said Joan. “It was a safe place for the family to gather and say good bye.”
Jim spent two weeks at the hospice before passing away on Oct. 12, 2015.
During that time, said Joan, the hospice staff took every effort to make certain Jim was at ease and ensure the family was supported.
Jim was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in June 2014. It is a terminal illness caused by exposure to asbestos.
She said there is no cure and patients are usually given six to 12 months to live. Jim had a surgery that, if successful, can extend a person’s life by as much as five years. It was a serious procedure that involved high doses of radiation, the removal of a lung and parts of the diaphragm and heart lining.
Unfortunately, the procedure did not provide the lease on life they hoped.
Joan said Jim wanted to die at home, but he declined quickly and his palliative care doctor suggested hospice care when it was time. She had been a caregiver for Jim during the previous year at their Priddis home and said it was a relief to allow hospice staff to take over.
She said the hospice adjusted his medication so his mind was clearer in his final days. Their family dog was allowed to go to the hospice to spend time with Jim and she was allowed to spend the night. She said they even received help with funeral planning.
The hospice staff ended up looking after the whole family.
“When we didn’t realize we hadn’t eaten for two days they would bring a meal, or bring tea and cake,” she said.
One year later, Joan is giving back. She organized a fundraiser to support the hospice a year after his passing. The Oct. 15 event at the Priddis Community Hall raised $33,000 for the hospice.
“It was really a rock and rolling party for Jim, it was in his honour to benefit the hospice,” said Joan.
She said she believes in the hospice and the work it does.
“The hospice, I felt, was just a really safe, secure place for the whole family,” said Joan.
Hospice executive director Dawn Elliott said they want their patients to be comfortable and feel as though they are at home during their time at the hospice, especially as Christmas approaches.
She said they do their best to create a festive atmosphere.
“We have holiday carolers, a number of staff get together and practice Christmas carols and go down the halls and sing and we take special requests,” said Elliott. “We have a number of different groups coming for entertainment during the month of December and we also make a lovely Christmas dinner for patients and their families.”
The hospice will often take great lengths to do something special for their patients.
In one instance, this meant bringing a patient outside in his bed to see his beloved horses one more time. In another, Elliott said the hospice staff recreated a meal from a patient’s favourite restaurant – Red Lobster – so he could taste it one more time.
“He wasn’t able to eat the meal, but he had one bite and he was able to smell it and was in heaven,” she said.
Elliott said funding from this year’s Western Wheel Cares campaign will go towards support services for patients and their families.
She said the hospice provides grief support for families, including monthly meetings and individual sessions, and the support is ongoing after their loved one passes. Elliott said a social worker at the hospice works with patients to help them get their affairs in order, such as ensuring they have a will, funeral plans and personal directives.
As for the $33,000 raised at the Jim Fiddler fundraiser, Elliott said it will go towards buying new mattresses for patient beds.
Donations and support from the community are essential.
The hospice receives 61 per cent of the funding for its $2.7 million budget from Alberta Health Service and it needs to fundraise for the rest.
“The hospice is so thankful for the support that we get in the community and surrounding areas,” she said. “We are very, very blessed.”
For more information on Western Wheel Cares contact Gayle Wolf at 403-938-6397 or [email protected]
To participate call the Western Wheel office Monday to Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. (403-938-6397). We accept credit cards, debit, cash and cheques (payable to Western Wheel Cares) either at the office at 9 McRae Street, using PayPal at www.westernwheel.com or mailed to Box 150, Okotoks, AB T1S 2A2. Please do not mail cash. Donations of $10 or more will receive a 2016 official tax receipt at the end of the campaign.
