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For Patients & Families Tell us your story! "We were so glad that Hospice was with us through the last eight months that our mother and wife was with us. I don't think we could have made it without you. Everyone was so good to us. God bless you." When his wife died of cancer in February 2004, Henry* wasn't prepared for the long road of grieving that lay ahead. As with all HospiceCare families, Henry had received phone calls, offer of visits, and invitations to attend support groups following the death of his loved one. He dismissed those opportunities tossing grief support newsletters in the trashcan and ignoring the painful reminders of Lilly's* death. For more than 2 ½ years he attempted to cope on his own, recognizing that even though his grief remained unreconciled, he was not willing to seek help. Then, one evening in October of 2005 while lying on the couch, Henry found himself thinking about alternatives for his life now that his wife had passed on. It occurred to him that depression, sadness, and anxiety of being alone was  overwhelming.
His alternative was suicide. A short time later, he remembered the grief support literature HospiceCare mailed to his home
six times a year since Lilly's death. He remembered the offers of visits, counseling and support for survivors. Feeling
that he was at the end of his rope, Henry decided to give the support group a try.For over five months, Henry attended the support group at HospiceCare's Dunbar office. He found that through this program he was able to connect with others in the group who were also experiencing overwhelming sorrow. He learned how to share his intimate and painful feelings. He found that sharing his loss helped him to process and validate his grief experiences to the point of being able to cope on a daily basis. Henry had found a reason to live. His grieving experience and participation in the support group progressed; Henry noticed a change in his emotional well-being and overall state of mind. He became more at peace with himself and with others. During one such support group, he commented that if it weren't for this support group he would probably not be alive today. NOTE: Bereavement services of the Grief and Loss Resource Program are provided to HospiceCare families free of charge. Medicare certification and state licensure require that we provide bereavement follow-up for up to one year for families of hospice patients. Through the United Way of Central West Virginia and their Annual Campaign, we are able to off-set the expenses of this program and continue to reach out to those who are in need of this special kind of care. *The names of the individual involved have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the family's identity. |
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