Upon receiving a diagnosis of Stage IV non small cell lung cancer in July 2018, and given a life expectancy of only two (2) to four (4) months, our dear, sweet mother was admitted into Westminster-Canterbury Hospice on July 11. Exactly three (3) months and one (1) day later - on October 12 - Mom peacefully left us. It is the time in between her diagnosis and her departure that we wish to acknowledge.
Having never been involved with hospice care, we had no idea what to expect in the coming days, nor did we know how to even begin to make her journey as pain-free and comfortable as possible. We were unsure of the level of care that would be provided and had reservations about how our mother would be treated. It was as the staff of Westminster-Canterbury hospice began visiting and attending to Mom that we knew almost immediately that we had made the right choice for her. Time spent with Mom by Amanda (nurse), Debbie (aide), Nick (chaplain), and Ayne (caregiver) proved to be a core team of some of the most caring individuals we have ever come to know. Mom felt the same - she was able to interact with each and every person who came to care for her, and she always felt comfortable asking questions and understanding responses. She not only appreciated the guidance and care provided, she truly looked forward to each and every visit, and she shared her little life stories at each meeting.
As the primary caregiver through hospice, Amanda seemed to become the most familiar with Mom. While the entire team provided extraordinary care, Amanda consistently went above and beyond, always treating Mom with dignity and respect while providing love and laughter mixed in with medical procedures and advice. Amanda consistently made every effort to thoroughly explain what was happening, what was likely to happen in the near future, and what to expect as Mom neared end of life. Indeed, my sister and I came to care just as much for Amanda as we watched her interact with Mom.
So, it is with a very heavy heart that we have had to say goodbye to our Mom, but we can say, without hesitation, that both Mom's journey and ours were carefully and skillfully guided by every Westminster-Canterbury team member. Thank you for the wonderful work that all of you do every day! read more