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A Portal to Profound

A Portal to Profound

By Ellen Buckmaster, Hospice Austin Volunteer When I tell people I’m a hospice volunteer, I almost always get something like, “Oh good for you. I could never do that,” as if my efforts are heroic or out of the ordinary. It’s an interesting and perhaps telling...
The Monastery of Monte Siesta

The Monastery of Monte Siesta

I met my friend, Michelle, almost two years ago shortly after she had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Michelle’s childhood was scarred with unreliable, abusive adults and, not surprisingly, the early part of her own adulthood was riddled with addiction and a...
Paying Homage

Paying Homage

I showed up for my afternoon shift at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House where my mother-in-law died more than 15 years ago. The walkway is made of bricks. Many of them contain names and life dates of people who had died at the hospice. Recent rains had caused dirt,...
On Top of the Mountain

On Top of the Mountain

It’s not unusual for families to go into a tailspin during the agonizing terminal illness of a child. However, Mary Rodriguez and her husband, Ricardo Perez, traversed that difficult journey with incredible courage and grace. They had no indication during Mary’s...

Two Lives, Transformed

We are delighted to announce that one of our patients, Charles Simpson, and his family will be featured in this year’s Austin American-Statesman’s Season for Caring campaign. Watch for the article in the Statesman on the Sunday after Thanksgiving! The Season for...

Loving Spirits

Stacy Pruitt became a certified nurse aide after witnessing the subpar care her grandmother received from a nursing aide in her small town. Suzanne Armistead became a CNA after seeing the excellent care her brother received. Andrew Stratman became a CNA after visiting...