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Hospice hiking
One day you wake up and realize you’re the same age as your parents were when you thought they were old. Yep, it happens. It just happened to me. I distinctly remember sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, in Toronto, and thinking, “My parents are old. They’ve moved to this smaller house because they’re too old to manage the property they lived in for almost 40 years.” While they were talking, I was doing the mental math. You know, that math. The “how old now and how long until the math wins” math. My parents lived another 20-plus years in the smaller house. My mother died in 2008, and my father died in 2009. At the times of their death, I wished I’d had something, or someone, who understood the dying and the grief and the emptiness I was feeling. Oh, I got lots of nods, and hugs, and cards, and calls. But I needed help to understand what I was feeling. I managed to sort some of it out with the help of LOML, our children and my brothers. I got myself sort of sorted out, I did. Fast forward a few years and a young friend mentioned Hospice and how it would have been just the right thing for me. So, I read a bit about what a hospice was and, as my dad would have said, “too soon old and too late smart”.
Hospice Prince Edward is a charitable organization dedicated to giving support to individuals and families who are dealing with a terminal illness or a death. Every dollar donated to Hospice is used to keep the doors, and the lines of communication, open for anyone in need. Every one of us knows that life is punctuated with surprises. You never know when you’ll be the person in need of a soft shoulder, a kind word or advice. Without a doubt, we are fortunate to have Hospice Prince Edward right here, in our community. Hospice Prince Edward is a building and it is people. Mostly it’s people who are devoted to supporting people when they need it most. In addition to what I thought a hospice was, ours is also there for bereavement support, community visiting, offer In-home Comfort Resource Kits, volunteer training and educational speakers. Bereavement Support is guided by trained volunteers who “organize small peer-group meetings where people can share their grief journey in a safe, confidential environment”. Grief can be overwhelming. A terminal illness or the loss of a loved one is, often, highly emotionally charged. Being able to share your highs and lows with other people who understand and, perhaps, have “been there,” can be very reassuring and comforting. The Community Visiting program offers respite time for the family caregivers. My family could have used respite care, after nearly three years of coping with ailing parents. Those trained volunteers are available to offer education, guidance and companionship when caregivers need it most. Like I said, too soon old.
My point is, now I know about hospice. In particular, I know more about Hospice Prince Edward. If you couldn’t find a few moments to Hike for Hospice on Sunday, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a contribution to Hospice Prince Edward at another time. A whole lot of County folks woke up, saw those overcast skies and said, “Nope, not today.” And, for some, there was a basement or yard full of water and the call of sump pump or sandbag duty was a priority task. Whatever it was that may have kept you from H4H, no worries. It is never too late to help. You can make a donation to Hospice Prince Edward online, in person, or at your bank. Your contribution to Hospice Prince Edward will ensure that the good work and caring will continue.
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