Friday, February 4, 2011
NHPCO Updater: A Message to our Hospice and Palliative Care Commu...
NHPCO Updater: A Message to our Hospice and Palliative Care Commu...: "NHPCO just wrapped up the first board meetings of the year (look for a follow-up report in the days ahead). Our discussions included an ..."
Sunday, January 30, 2011
What is Your Celebration?
Celebrations occur at a variety of milestones; birth, graduation, weddings, life remembrances.
Attending the 50th wedding anniversary of my husband's sister and her husband, it was easy to
realize what causes a golden wedding anniversary to be so special. 
Like hospice patients, celebrations in life culminate from the relationships formed during
the years. The people who cry, laugh and support you and place judgment anywhere but
on you remain permanently etched in your heart.
In the celebratory moment, each family member and friend appears and displays
their impressions of how you have added value to their lives through your relationship.
I just finished reading The Mercy Paper by Robin Romm and will be speaking soon on the
same panel where she will be discussing her book. If you have read this piece, it drastically
defines the hospice nurse as cold hearted. I know that there was a dual lens of perception in this encounter.
The sweetest hospice nurse on earth is still an icon of impending death. I wonder if all that
might change if we treated each hospice patient the same way my family celebrated the
50 golden years of marriage of our loved ones. There was story telling, hugging and laughter,
and lots of "Do you remember when we....?"
I am sure a lot of hospice staff work diligently to make this happen with their patients but
if not, I would ask that we look closely at life celebrations. Let's learn to hug, laugh, and value
more the person with whom we are blessed to be in their presence.
If death is really a part of living, then celebrating can occur anytime along the way. It's up
to us to invite ourselve to the party.
Learn to celebrate the life of hospice patients by becoming a hospice volunteer. Start training now.
Create Your Own Hospice Marketing Blitz Sticker
I am having a lot of fun creating the stickers and other items for the agencies that use the Hospice Volunteer Training Online program.
Make your own marketing statement with inexpensive stickers, key chains, and t-shirts.
Go to the Zazzle Store and create something uniquely yours and comment on this post to share the link of your product.
Happy 90th Birthday Mom
Happy 90th Birthday Mom!
Note- Mom passed away in her home Saturday afternoon…she would have been 90 years old Sunday. (Post was started on the 27th)…she’s missing a HUGE Party!
Happy 90th BIRTHDAY Mama Felicia!
I would like to introduce you to my Mom who was born on January 30, 1921, in the small province of Leyte, Dulag in the Philippines. Her young 18-year old eyes saw the bombing of her home town in World War II and in 1944 she met her future husband a soldier of the The Philippine Scouts, a military organization of the United States Army then later on as a corporal with the US Army. Mom told me with a smile “I wasn’t sure if I could marry your father because he was balding.” She came to the United States as a war-bride traveling on a ship carrying her 6-months old son in 1947. The ship took two weeks to arrive at it’s destination in San Francisco.
Mom was a member of the Ozzie & Harriet generation; staying at home to take
care of her two sons while her husband worked three jobs, loved her soap operas As the World Turns and the Guiding Light. She loved to grow roses in the afternoon and crochet in the evening. She cooked our favorite Filipino dishes chicken adobo and pancit and every night we could hear her scream “Did you do your homework?”
Our parents were BIG Hoop fans of the 50S/60s Boston Celtics and Baseball junkies of the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s. Mom and Dad went to about 30 baseball games every year and even witness a Perfect Game by Catfish Hunter of the Oakland A’s. Our parents introduced us to the local professional wrestling matches in the San Francisco/Oakland area and later watched the Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant pay-for-Tv matches.
In 1964, mom took American Citizen classes and became a United States citizen…she was so proud. She also loved her doggies; Rex, a large doberman pincher, Rocky, a German Shepherd, and her favorite dog a senior citizen Yellow Lab Rusty, who followed her everywhere she went. Mama Felicia also had a pet pigeon …it was so funny to see Mom walk across the street to visit her neighbor and the pigeon would follow her.
Our parents lived the American Dream when they saw their sons graduate from college… and when my brother became a chemist and I became a pro photographer. Mom is also Grandma to my oldest daughter who just graduated from the University of Arizona and my youngest daughter who is attending the University of Oregon. My parent’s hopes and dreams continues…Happy Birthday Mom!
P.S. I will miss you Mom… don’t worry about me I will be OK
6 Responses to “Happy 90th Birthday Mom!”
kay a balsley says:
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom Mine is 71 and she is my best friend I am not looking forward to ever losing her but I remind myself to not be selfish when it is her time to leave this earth It is far better to be with Jesus. It sounds like your Mom lived a full life and a exciting one while she was on this earth It sounds like she had a good family and was well loved what more can we give them while they are with us Take care My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family
Jo says:
“My parent’s hopes and dreams continue”
No truer words spoken. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family. Be gentle with yourself.
Sharon says:
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom. We are never ready to let them go. May the memories of her live on in your hearts. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Sounds like your mom had an interesting and full life.
I don’t think she’s missing out on anything though, I bet shes having a party right where she’s at.
My sympathies for you on her passing.
Kathy´s last blog ..Awkward situationG-J says:
Oh, I was so sorry to read about your Mom’s passing. Thank you for sharing the stories of her life with us.
Unit Known as Shandi says:
I’m so sorry, Caregiver Guy. Your mom’s enthusiasm for life and her family shine from her picture. I’m so glad that she was at home, I know what that took on your part to make that possible. I can’t even imagine all the emotions that you are dealing with now. I hope you can get some rest and that this week goes as smoothly as possible.
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