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Hospice Austin’s Blog
A Sense of Well-Being
“On a scale from 1 – 10, rate your general sense of well-being.” Dr. Bob Friedman, the chief medical officer for CTPCA – Central Texas Palliative Care Associates – looked at my brother-in-law expectantly.
Surviving the Holidays
With good reason, holiday seasons are among the most emotionally difficult times for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. Holidays may be difficult no matter what you try to do or where you go. Be gentle with yourself. Below are some tips that may help.
Doorways to the Soul: Accepting What Is
Several months before my father died everything began to go wrong with his body. First one thing and then another. Even though, at that point in my life, I had spent some time as a chaplain intern for a large trauma center and had been around people as they were dying, I was too close to my own situation to be able to see what was actually happening.
Doorways to the Soul: The Present Moment
It was a thing of beauty; aquamarine and silver with white streamers on the handlebars. My very first bike. I was six years old and had watched with longing for several years as my two older brothers tore around the neighborhood on their big red bicycles. Now was my time. I could feel it.
Hospice Austin Volunteers: A Brilliant Tapestry of Love
Last week at a Hospice Austin Volunteer Forum (an educational event held quarterly for our volunteers), about 20 of us were having a wonderful conversation with one of our doctors about the physician’s role on the Hospice Austin team when a visitor to the group raised...
Repairing the World
If last week had been a fish, I would have thrown it back. It seemed that we couldn’t turn around without encountering another heartbreaking story or situation. The Boston Marathon bombing; the devastating explosion in West, Texas; a destructive earthquake in China;...
Woven Together
“Excuse me,” the nurse said politely. I looked up from my paperwork.
“The patient in room five is actively dying, and the family is requesting the chaplain.”
I put down my pen, pushed my chair away from the desk in the cozy office I shared with the Social Worker at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, and made my way to room five. Pausing at the door to quiet myself, I knocked softly, then entered.
Our Greatest Power
We have no power! my son, Patrick, yelled to me from the back door. It was a little after seven and my two teenage boys and I had just arrived at our home tucked back into the woods of our small farm in Bastrop County. The wind was whipping wildly and the moon was impossibly full, casting a silvery light as we unloaded backpacks and groceries from the car. Always looking for an excuse to light matches, my older son, Cassady, had two candles glowing by the time I got into the house.
Hearts and Ashes
It’s six o’clock on Monday morning Feb. 11th and I’m just shuffling off to the shower when I hear my phone receive a text message. It is from a teacher at my son’s former elementary school. Apparently, one of her fourth graders hadn’t come to school on Friday so she...
Valentine Bear Hugs
Every February when people all over the country are preparing to celebrate Valentine’s Day by buying candy or flowers, giving gifts or taking a loved one to dinner - all in the name of St. Valentine - my thoughts turn to leading an outreach drive to collect teddy...
