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Jean's Story (the story behind the Pond Tour)
My sister Jean loved gardening and nature, and she loved my pond. After she was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in February 2009, she would visit as often as possible. I treasured the times I watched her pain and tension disappear as she sat pondering.
In July, Jean and I toured the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice together. She was nervous at first, but like all those times we sat looking over the pond, her anxiety melted away as she took in the beauty of the home and the smiling compassion of the staff. She was so impressed with the gardens and particularly fond of the pond and waterfall. Within minutes Jean decided to spend her final weeks there.
Jean’s condition improved for a time due to the world class palliative care she received. Pain management was never an issue. Her beautiful private room and garden view was a constant delight to her. She was nurtured and indulged. But Jean was very concerned about her family, and it was very important to her that we were cared for as well. The hospice not only cares for the resident as a whole, they care for the whole family too. Jean’s biggest struggle was that she could not eat –at all. But she was proud that she could tell us “go have some soup, it’s cream of broccoli today” or “get some cakes from the kitchen” – she felt at home, because she could offer food to her family as she would have in her own home. We were all nurtured by the Hospice, not just nutritionally, but emotionally and spiritually as well. The support system was amazing.
Jean often talked about one more visit to my place so that she could “Sit by the pond”, but regrettably she never felt up to it. Instead, many times during those final weeks I sat pondside talking to her on the phone, describing which birds had visited that day, talking about the koi and the water plants, holding out the phone so she could hear the croaking frogs and trilling cicadas. I will never forget all those precious moments.
While under the wings of the Hospice, our family received exceptional medical, emotional and spiritual care at no charge. Jean passed on nurtured, painless and at peace. Our family emerged nurtured and whole. We were blessed to have the best support available.
Our experience as a family made us want to give back to the Hospice. Jean’s fancy for the pond gave me the vision of this project. She would have loved this tour. She would have bought tickets in a heartbeat. She would have toured both days, reveling in the tranquility and imagery and sensory stimulation of every pond she could get to.
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The Hospice is partly government funded but mostly dependent upon fundraising. I encourage you to make an investment in the future of this community treasure by supporting the Hospice. I look forward to meeting you pondside on July 9-10, 2011.
God Bless.
Debbie Sperling |
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Jean's Story
