Team amazes family of hospice patient

Hospice caregivers walk through dark valleys every day—with patients and families. When things are especially dark, they are grateful to have each other as well.

Susan Curry, nurse manager over hospice services at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, hears often about the tremendous care delivered through hospice. But when

someone shared a particularly moving story, she welled with pride and gratitude.

Sherilyn Brown, a hospice social worker, wrote to recognize, Caron Welch, RN, for “professionalism, compassion and calm reassurance through an intense six-plus-hour visit” at a patient’s home when the patient was sedated, taken off life support and died, surrounded by 10-15 family members.

The experience “went nothing like the family believed or expected it would. It was a very emotional and difficult process for all to witness,” said Brown.

She and Welch weren’t the only ones helping them through the difficulty. A harpist added a calming element and Mary Lookingbill, hospice chaplain, was there, offering a prayer at the end.

Curry said the family was “truly amazed” with how hospice sent the “whole team” to be with them.

“These are truly the defining moments in a culture of caring with the love that our Mission proclaims, and make us proud to call our fellow caregivers 'team',” she said.