by admin | Apr 9, 2019 | Being Present, Caregiving, Hospice, Volunteering
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,...
by admin | Apr 8, 2019 | Volunteering
One of my most memorable experiences was when I provided 11th-hour relief for a young man in his 20’s with brain cancer. Each time he would cough, his head would become very red in color and he would be in obvious distress. I used a craniosacral therapy technique at...
by admin | Apr 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
Each time I knock on a patient’s door at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, I wonder what is happening on the other side. I never know quite what to expect. I take a deep breath, walk in, and ask if they – the family, the patient – need anything. Sometimes it’s...
by admin | Apr 5, 2019 | Bereavement
Day of Renewal: A Creative & Experiential Exploration of Grief April 27th: 9 am – 4:30 pm, Trinity United Methodist Church (4001 Speedway Austin, TX 78751) This special day combines gentle movement, aromatherapy, art, writing, and meditation. The movement practice...
by admin | Mar 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
I started working with a 72-year-old gentleman last September – we formed an amazing bond. I was privileged to play an important role in his life. He was on his own, no family, very lonely but also a very vibrant, funny, and delightful individual. He told me (and...
by admin | Mar 6, 2019 | Bereavement
Day of Renewal: A Creative & Experiential Exploration of Grief April 27th: 9 am – 4:30 pm, Trinity United Methodist Church (4001 Speedway Austin, TX 78751) This special day combines gentle movement, aromatherapy, art, writing, and meditation. • Coffee/Tea,...
by admin | Feb 14, 2019 | Uncategorized
Every patient who comes to Hospice Austin’s Christopher House – upon arrival and every few days thereafter – is brought a fresh bouquet of flowers. Lady Bird Johnson said, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” Flowers embody the mystery of beauty that one poet called...
by admin | Feb 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
Drop-In Grief Support Groups Please join Hospice Austin for these free Drop-In Bereavement Groups this month. Being Alone in My Grief: Solitude vs. Loneliness The experience of grief includes periods of loneliness and times of solitude. Join us to discuss the...
by admin | Jan 15, 2019 | Bereavement
When we first lose someone we love, or when we’re grieving a previous loss for the first time, it’s all we can do to simply survive each day. There are times in our grief journey, however, when we become ready to make changes in how we grieve and heal. Change begins...
by admin | Dec 14, 2018 | Caregiving, Hospice, Patients
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...
