By arhospice on May 23rd, 2024
Like many Arkansas Hospice patients, Carrie wanted to spend her final days in the peace and comfort of her own home, surrounded by her family and loved ones. Carrie also had another wish – to see her son graduate high school.
Carrie’s journey with Arkansas Hospice began when her sister reached out to the Hot Springs Area Office.
“She was a young lady who had been battling cancer for some time and was in need of hospice services,” said Jason Clenney, Director of Business Development for Arkansas Hospice and Arkansas Palliative Care. “Immediately, we sprang into action. We went to the hospital. We visited with the patient and the family, and we collaborated with the physician because her needs were rather complex.”
Watch the story of this special graduation brought home.
Tonya Campbell, RN, Hot Springs Area Office Manager, said that her team and the Arkansas Hospice Foundation did everything they could to meet those needs and help get Carrie home.
“We immediately went to work on what those needs were and how we would get these needs met,” Campbell said. “Every person I asked, it was, ‘Yes.’ No one asked me how much anything cost, it was just, ‘Yes.’”
Once Carrie was home, her next priority was witnessing her son’s high school graduation.
“We reached out to the school and worked with them to expedite the date of the graduation, and the administration was so accommodating,” Clenney said. “They came out with the cap and gown, and she got to see her son graduate in her living room.”
Clenney said that Carrie’s care team went the extra mile to make this milestone a special memory for the family.
“Our social worker had connected with the family to identify any other needs and learned that the patient wanted to present her son with a Bible as a graduation gift,” he said. “So, we found a Bible that she was able to write a sweet message in and present to him as a graduation gift. And the son wanted to present his mom with a long-stemmed red rose. So, we found a rose, of course, for him to give to her. Then, we also got cake and punch and balloon bouquets and all the things you need to celebrate this really precious moment.”
Helping Carrie’s family experience such a significant event and make the most of their time together was unforgettable for both them and the Arkansas Hospice Hot Springs team.
“It was a blessing to provide care to Carrie,” Campbell said. “Her family treasured her so. She treasured her son. And we just wanted to try to make that hard situation just a little bit easier.”
Part of our mission at Arkansas Hospice is “to enhance the quality of life for those facing serious illness and loss by surrounding them with love.” Not all patients get to have an experience like Carrie’s while in our care, but our hope is that each of them feel just as special and loved.
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