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You helped Chuck’s family honor his final wish to stay at home
Retta Folsom’s husband, Chuck, needed a lot of help when he suffered from end-stage COPD, a long-term lung condition that makes breathing difficult. Retta and her daughter, Julie, took care of him at home for as long as they could.
When they were no longer able to care for Chuck the way he needed as he approached the end of his life, Retta and Julie turned to donor-supported Mercy Health Lourdes Hospice for help.
“From the moment it was decided that palliative (comfort) care was no longer the best way to continue for my father, we called Hospice and they took care of everything,” says Julie. “We didn’t know what to expect, and their guidance with his condition was beyond helpful. It was amazing.”
Thanks to you and your giving, the Mercy Health Lourdes Hospice team helped them honor Chuck’s wishes to spend his final days at home and surrounded by loved ones.
“He always said he wanted to die in his own bed,” Retta recalls.
“My grandson and Julie were able to stay with us. We piled up in bed with Chuck and spent the whole night talking to him and remembering our lives together.”
Hospice nurses stood with the Folsoms the next morning as they said goodbye. Retta and Julie are thankful for the care and compassion the Hospice staff showed. Your donation for Hospice services ensures every family like the Folsoms are supported and their loved one is given comfort and dignity in their final days.
“They constantly reassured us, always asking how we were doing and if we needed anything,” Julie recalls. “They held us up and got us through it. I’ll always be grateful.”