Hospice of Southern Illinois Saves the Day

At Hospice of Southern Illinois, the community education team is always thinking of new ways to educate the community and spread our mission, to enhance the quality of life of individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness. We never thought this nifty little item would save the day for one of our fellow community healthcare providers. It just shows the power of a  little burgundy and a phone number. Thank you Kim for sharing your great story with our readers!

A little over a year ago, Hospice of Southern Illinois came by my office to drop off a very cute business card holder that was to attach to the back of my phone.  I almost didn’t put it on, because I was just sure I wouldn’t use it to tell the truth!  I did, and then off I went.

A few weeks later, I went to Colorado for a little vacation.  My best friend  and I had a fantastic week. On the last full day we had we took a picnic up the mountain!  We stopped and took picture of little creeks, elk, and deer all along the way.  It was a perfect day, until we got to her house. I was packing to leave for the next day.  I went to get my phone to call my children, and guess what? No phone!!!  I was frantic, of course, and looked all over – the house, my pockets, the car, driveway, etc.  Nothing.  We got back in the car and drove back up the mountain and spent two hours retracing our steps until it was dark.

The next day, I called my phone service and had it turned off.  We were just about to leave for some coffee when I remembered the lovely business card holder on the back of my phone!  I called them from my friend’s phone and explained my situation.  All of a sudden, the woman on the other end starting laughing!  She said “Well, you’re not going to believe this, but we just got a call from a woman in Colorado who has your phone!!! She left her number in case you called!”  Needless to say, I was thrilled!  I called her and we agreed to meet about halfway, which was about 45 minutes away.  Unfortunately, it did turn out that she found it on her PRIVATE lane that we had driven up just to get some pictures (ok, blame it on the wine!), but she thought it was such a good story that she only said, “You’re lucky I didn’t see you that day when I had my gun!”  Yikes! 

 
Happy ending with this happy girl and her FABULOUS business card holder from Hospice of Southern Illinois!

 

Kim Patterson,

Guest Blogger from The Colonnade Senior Living

 

 

 

 

Hospice of Southern Illinois Homerun: All Good Things Come With Fredbird

Hospice of Southern Illinois Homerun

“All Good Things Come With Fredbird”

Fredbird arrived at Patsy’s home on Friday, June 13, 2014. Although Friday the 13^th is usually recognized as a superstitious day, this day definitely wasn’t an unlucky one and will be considered “super” for this patient and family who will always cherish the memories Fredbird made in their home that day.

 

{Click Here or Click The Photo to View Video}

 

Hospice of Southern Illinois’ patient, Patsy, has been less responsive in the recent weeks. There is a joy of summer that still excites her, St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, as many who live in the metro-east can relate. Patsy’s caregivers and hospice interdisciplinary team learned about her love of Cardinals Baseball during their visits to her home and conversations with her children, noticing it was one thing that would bring her joy. In an attempt to bring some fun-loving excitement which the family hasn’t seen lately due to caregiver stress, Patsy’s terminal illness, and the inconsistencies of day-to-day living, the employees at Hospice of Southern Illinois  reached out to Fredbird, who without words, said it all!

He was welcomed with a yard sign created by Patsy’s granddaughter and friend and a warm, yet quiet family in the living room, for Patsy did not know who was visiting that day. Patsy’s daughter had told her that she was getting a special surprise visitor that day, but she wouldn’t say who. As Patsy patiently waited for this “super” surprise guest, everyone’s excitement was building because we all knew what was about to happen.

 

Fredbird entered the kitchen where Patsy was waiting. Her face was in total shock. She had no idea what to say or how to respond to this 6’ 3”, red bird character we all know and love! He instantly was able to make her smile with a, “Whoot woo,” and boy did she blush. It was so beautiful to see her eyes light up and joy in her face. He proceeded to serenade her, dance with her, and shake his tail feather at her. Fredbird decided there was not enough laughing and decided to go through the pantry, gulp some milk, and share a round of high fives with Patsy, the family, and the Hospice of Southern Illinois team.

The volume in the house then exploded. All stresses and illness at that moment were nonexistent. Everyone was laughing, taking photos, and shaking a tail feather. “I have never seen anyone turn a room so fast. It was an epic moment to capture and moment to experience,” explained Christine Litteken, Hospice of Southern Illinois’ Print and Social Media Coordinator, who was taking photos. Fredbird turned his attention back to his guest of honor to give her one final kiss before he left. Of course he couldn’t leave without a bang. In a cabinet he found a blow horn which a family member blew his way. It knocked him off his feet as he stumbled down the hall and out the door leaving us all with a smile and memory to cherish in our hearts forever. As a Hospice of Southern Illinois’ employee, Kim Oplet mentioned when she saw the photos, “All good things come with Fredbird.”

A few days later some Hospice of Southern Illinois’ employees went back to deliver photos from the day to Patsy and her family. The same joy was reignited from Friday as she was sitting in her room waiting for the game to start. We knew it was a hospice homerun! With Fredbird’s help, we were able to eliminate all stress, pain, and worries in that moment; give the family a memorable day together; give our patient, Patsy, the experience of a lifetime that few get to have.  

That night the Cardinals played the Nationals with a 1-0 victory. We all know that Patsy’s love for the Cardinals, especially Fredbird, Yadier Molina and Matt Holiday, helped play a part in the win that night. A special thank you goes to the St. Louis Cardinals, Fredbird, and his team for the above-and-beyond effort that impacted someone’s life at such an important and critical time. That day he was a vision of our mission, to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness. It meant more to them and us than he will ever know.