Demystifying Hospice Blog

No one could believe she hadn’t planned her husband’s funeral.  It seemed natural that a funeral would be on one’s to do list when a loved one is faced with incapacitating cancer.  But after days and months enduring the foreign and tumultuous journey of a life threatening illness, Max and Lucy had not even discussed…

Steven received his prognosis of terminal cancer three months ago.  The tumor in his brain was growing rapidly and there was little anyone could do.  Steven and his family were shocked and very scared of what lay ahead for them.  The family contacted VON Oxford to engage a Hospice Volunteer Visitor.  As a Hospice Volunteer,…

My 84 year old mother was a casino regular until the pandemic hit. When I say regular I mean seven days a week at the Flamborough Downs penny slot machines. She reminds us often that “It’s like being in prison,” if she doesn’t get out every day. She lives in a very nice house in…

A woman in the prime of her life, living as she had hoped and planned in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood with her two children and a wonderful husband and their pet dog.  Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer.  She received surgery and treatment with little success.  Her doctor said…

“Mr. X” was very frail and suffering with the end stages of cancer.  His voice was barely audible and we leaned close to hear every word whenever he tried to speak.  One day, his nurse called Hospice with his request.  He wanted to marry his companion of 25 years.  He was much too frail to…

She arrived hesitantly at the door and rang the doorbell, not really knowing why she had come.  Her husband’s memory drew her to this special place where he had breathed his last breath.  Feeling anxious, she wasn’t sure what she planned to do.  Thankfully a familiar face became visible through the glass door.  Someone greeted…