by Helen Reilly, public relations coordinator, The Healing Cycle Foundation

Wendy’s forty-second birthday fell on a bright, warm Monday. That afternoon, Wendy Almeida took her last breath, succumbing to her two year battle with cancer. She felt secure and loved. Friends and family gathered to celebrate with her only a day earlier. Later that week, friends and family gathered once again in Wendy’s honour – this time, for a very different reason.

There is little we can be grateful for when a loved one succumbs to disease. Still, when he or she finds relief from pain in a comfortable environment so that precious time can be spent with family and friends, there are blessings to be counted. That is, essentially, what hospice palliative care provides.

Palliative care ensures patients with life-limiting illnesses, receive the care that considers a range of needs including physical, spiritual, psycho-social and practical. Palliative care is dedicated to valuing quality of life while supporting families as well. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough palliative care beds available to support the number of families requiring the specialized level of care. In fact, only three in 10 patients in Ontario will get access to a palliative care bed when they need one.

The Healing Cycle Foundation, through an annual bike ride and year-round information campaign, strives to increase awareness and raise the much needed funds to support palliative care initiatives in Ontario. The foundation recently surpassed its goal to raise $1 million for palliative care at The Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga and has now broadened its scope to also support hospices throughout Ontario. Through a grant process, hospices are invited to apply for funding from The HealingCycle Foundation to support expenses related to practical needs as well as programs.

The Carpenter Hospice, affectionately referred to as ‘the most special home in Burlington’ receives government funding for nurses and personal care workers only. All other operational costs rely on the $1.3 million raised by the hospice annually to support programs, food, and maintenance of the hospice itself.

Wendy chose to spend the final months of her life at the Carpenter Hospice. The 10 bed hospice is a 7,500 square foot bungalow nestled into a residential neighbourhood, located on the back portion of St. Steven’s Church property. The residential care area is in a spacious, beautifully-decorated corridor, backing onto a forest and surrounded by gardens lovingly maintained by volunteers. It is a special place that embraces the needs of patients and their families by tending to medical necessities while supporting the spiritual, social and practical needs of patients and families.

Lesley Hirst, RN, Advanced Practical Nurse and Executive Director at the Carpenter Hospice, describes a peaceful and collaborative atmosphere where specialists, caregivers and volunteers collaborate to encourage patients and families to be partners in their care. “Our role is to give some sense of control and comfort back to the family, while managing symptoms and needs” she says.

The hospice offers patients comfort and support including bereavement groups to support families before and after a loved one passes. As well, the Carpenter Hospice is proud to offer other valuable programs such as music therapy.

Adrienne Pringle, Music Therapist helps patients and families access the emotions and words they may not otherwise find. “We value music therapy as a part of the support system at the Carpenter Hospice and we hope to expand the program if we can secure the funds to do so,” says Lesley. “Wendy really had a connection with Adrienne through music – her music gave Wendy a sense of peace,” Betty adds.

The Carpenter Hospice also hosts treatments such as massage, offered through a partnership with Trillium College. These programs made a significant difference for Wendy. Betty, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, says. “The Carpenter Hospice gave us peace of mind,offering wonderful care for Wendy. When we left each night, we knew she was surrounded by wonderful, compassionate caregivers,” she adds.

The essence of palliative care is to embrace the entire family. “They went out of their way to make things as close to home as possible for Wendy and especially for her two children,” says Betty. The whole family enjoyed BBQ parties and other special events in the home-like, comfortable setting making the days as normal as they could be under the circumstances.

The day before she passed away, Wendy’s family celebrated in her room since she wasn’t well enough to partake of festivities in the formal dining room. “The staff and volunteers made it possible for our family to celebrate each special occasion as we would have done at home.” says Betty.

When her son Grant was turning 10, the staff and volunteers at the Carpenter Hospice helped Wendy’s family host a family party with cake and ice cream, balloons and snow cones (made from a staff member’s personal snow cone machine brought in from home). “Being able to interact with her children in day to day family activities at the hospice was very reassuring to Wendy. Since the hospice setting is essentially a home,the children were comfortable and able to carry on with activities with Wendy as they would have done at home.

The Carpenter Hospice in Burlington is invited, along with hospices throughout Ontario to participate in The Healing Cycle Foundation’s annual bike ride in June 2012 to raise funds for their own individual hospice. As well, hospices are invited to apply for financial grants through the foundation.

For more information about palliative care, the annual bike ride and to learn how your hospice can benefit from a grant, please contact Heather Campbell, executive director, The Healing Cycle Foundation at 905-820-6081 or visit www.thehealingcycle.ca.

Live. Love. Ride.