Every day, ProMedica Hospice receives thanks for the care they have provided to a patient, or someone’s loved one. Many say they don’t have the words to describe their appreciation and simply say “Thanks.” ProMedica Hospice Serving Central Wisconsin recently received wonderful thank you letters from family members of hospice patients:

“Thank you! To know she was cared for, comfortable and peaceful is so meaningful to me. Thank you for always communicating with me about her care, especially as the end of her journey got closer. Hospice is an incredible service for the patient and their families.  You have all made a huge difference in Mom’s life and death.”

                                                                                                       - Linda Hull, daughter of hospice patient, Beverly

“Thank you to the staff at ProMedica Hospice who cared for Bridget during the last few weeks of her life. We are especially grateful to the RNs who assisted with her care, especially with pain management. We appreciated the guidance that helped the family with decisions to be made that allowed Bridget to be as comfortable as possible in her final days. Your kindness, compassion and expertise meant so much to Bridget’s family during this difficult time.”

                                                                                                       - Laura Trzebiatowski, niece of hospice patient, Bridget

Heartland Hospice Serving Central Wisconsin interns, Lexi Reeves and Rachel Halbach, recently spearheaded a shoe and sock drive to benefit veteran families. In partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Heartland Hospice has achieved Level 4 We Honor Veterans (WHV) distinction. “In our efforts to achieve WHV Level 5, Rachel and I brainstormed ideas for a community event,” said Lexi, a University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) health care administrative intern. “We reached out to the Veterans Service Office of Portage County in hopes they could connect us to opportunities, and they recommended the Salvation Army,” Lexi said.

Rachel, a UWSP social work intern, and Lexi linked the Heartland Hospice team with area senior living communities to raise 81 pairs of lightly used shoes and three bins of new socks. The Salvation Army centers in Wausau and Stevens Point will help distribute those items to veteran families who could benefit.

“Taking on a project like this has helped develop my leadership skills,” said Lexi. “It has also brought me comfort knowing that veterans in need will get shoes that can survive the summer!”

“It’s been great leading this project with Lexi,” Rachel said. “It has enabled me to build rapport with facilities that allowed us to place donation bins, and it gave me the chance to work on my social and leadership skills.”

On behalf of her team at Dimensions Living Stevens Point, resident services coordinator, Debra Footit, shared her pleasure in being asked to take part in the initiative. “This was such a blessing to participate in,” she said. “To know that our residents and families not only support each other but are also willing to help in the greater community is such a testament to their devotion to a better way of living."

Working in hospice takes a strong will, a full heart and plenty of compassion. When that compassion reaches our patients’ families, that's when we know we have truly lived out our Mission. Heartland Hospice serving (agency) recently received several testimonials from family members of patients citing the compassionate care their loved ones received:

“As I was out of the country at the time and not able to leave my elderly husband, it was extremely important for me to have contacts who so faithfully called me after seeing my aunt to give me an update on her condition. I could always count on hearing from her nurses, social workers and chaplain after each visit. The care she received was so professional and so caring that it put my mind at ease, and I always felt free to call with questions. The work your organization does is vitally important and must be very demanding and draining. I don’t know how I could have gotten through these last months without you. Please make sure her caregivers know how thankful I am for them.” 

                                                                                                                             -Karen McKenna, niece of a hospice patient

“Sometimes a family needs that extra special touch that can only be provided by people who really care. We found that in your team. It lifted our burden and lightened our load. It provided a comfortable solution in a trying time. We thank you so very much for all you have done.”

                                                                                                                             -Sarah Larkin, daughter of a hospice patient

Nurses are special people. For most of us, it’s hard to imagine the passion and conviction it requires to selflessly care for others in some of their deepest times of need. Jennifer (Jb) Kotlowski is no stranger to tribulation. As a care transition nurse for Heartland Hospice serving Central Wisconsin, Jb educates providers, patients and families about hospice care and how to maximize the hospice benefit.

Many times, friendships can form between the hospice care team and patients and families, or sometimes, friendships exist before the care team and patient relationship. Jb and the Neil Laube family share a most meaningful Christmas memory. “I met Neil Laube and his wife Mary Jo through church,” Jb shared. “I initially didn’t know them well, but they made it a point to talk with me every Sunday and would often dote on my children. Mary Jo and Neil Laube exude kindness and I felt like they invited my family in without using any words,” she said. “They’re very generous people.”

According to all who knew him, Neil loved nature, travel and especially his family. His children note that they counted on his unwavering support and encouragement. “Dad always showed up for us kids, our partners, his grandkids, 4-H members, neighbors and friends,” one daughter shared. Another daughter admired him for his calming and comforting presence--at the ready with words, looks and hugs.

One endearing thing everyone knew about Neil was that he didn’t just look like Santa Claus, he was thoroughly enchanted by all things Christmas. “He loved it all: Christmas Eve services, hymns, carols, classic Christmas songs, movies, food, going for drives to see the decorations, browsing in stores that had creative and artistic offerings, family,” said Mary Jo. “He never quit believing in the spirit of Santa,” she said.

Before Neil fell ill and became a patient served by Heartland Hospice, he and Mary Jo enjoyed exploring the United States together. Mary Jo said they specifically appreciated looking at flora and fauna, visiting historical places, discovering new things, trying new foods and meeting new people. “Visiting, or at least touching, all 50 states became a goal,” she said. Because he was a man who gave so much of himself, Jb felt compelled to return the kindness Neil had shown her and so many others. She subsequently devised a plan to fulfill the smiley-faced Santa’s goal.

“It was a surprise,” she said. “I didn’t tell Mary Jo what I had planned.” Jb believes Mary Jo and Neil had accepted visiting 49 of 50 U.S. states as an excellent accomplishment, and sufficient. But it wasn’t sufficient for her, so she got to work helping them visit the only state they’d missed, Rhode Island. “I reached out to the Rhode Island State Park Service who happily helped me put my plan in motion,” she said. “They sent me a pinecone, rocks, patches and even a pin from one of their parks.”

During the Christmas season, just days before Neil’s passing, Jb asked Mary Jo if she could come by for a visit. Despite having a houseful of his beloved family, Mary Jo welcomed her. “Neil was the best conversationalist!” Jb exclaimed. “He and I had widely different opinions about many things, but the conversation was always impeccable.” But this time Jb didn’t know what to say, nor how to present her gift. “I handed him a rock and stumbled through an explanation about how it was a magic rock. He agreed. He saw the magic in everything,” she said. “We were holding hands and I told him it was special, just like he is.” Eventually, Jb told Neil the rock he was holding was from Rhode Island, and now he’d officially touched a part of all 50 states. “My eyes were welling up before I finished speaking. Neil cried too,” she said. Jb witnessed as Neil very lovingly touched all the items that had come from Rhode Island with a look of awe, gratitude and maybe even relief. “It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life,” she said.

Mary Jo thinks of Jb as a gem. “Neil loved her and was overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness,” she said. “He held that rock for a long time and cried when he told others about this loving young woman who found a way to make visiting 50 states a special kind of reality.”