by admin | May 19, 2016 | Uncategorized
It’s Hospice Austin’s goal to give our patients relief from their symptoms so that they may enjoy life to the fullest. When Doug was admitted to Hospice Austin a year ago, he was not expected to live long. His condition, while still serious, has improved...
by admin | Feb 10, 2016 | End-of-life care, Hospice, Patients
Hospice Austin was recently chosen to participate in the Reel Change Film Frenzy, a project sponsored by the nonprofit Lights, Camera, Help whose mission is to help area nonprofits by making mission-driven films that tell their story. The project paired 10 nonprofits...
by admin | Dec 22, 2015 | Uncategorized
Hospice Austin’s Christopher House volunteer Gretchen Baker has turned heartache into a passion for helping others near the end of life. Not only does she volunteer at Christopher House twice a week, she’s provided a Thanksgiving Day meal for patients and staff for...
by admin | Nov 30, 2015 | Being Present, Bereavement, Uncategorized
Today is the day that Keaton died in 2001, just before his 4th birthday. November 23rd: it’s a different experience each year. Sometimes it falls on Thanksgiving, as it was that night. The emotional experience varies each year as well. That it has become easier over...
by admin | Nov 2, 2015 | Caregiving, End-of-life care, Hospice, Patients, Volunteering
StoryCorps approached Hospice Austin last fall to see if we would participate in their Legacy Project, which records stories of people whose lives have been affected by serious illness. StoryCorps is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and...
by admin | Oct 14, 2015 | Uncategorized
Nurse Carol Kiehl left an indelible stamp on Hospice Austin. She was a force of nature, a whirlwind of energy and caring. She worked for Hospice Austin for over 10 years, caring for countless patients and mentoring countless staff. We lost her to cancer early this...
by admin | Jul 6, 2015 | Advance Directives, Caregiving, End-of-life care
Three months before Ellen Goodman’s father died, they didn’t talk about his recently-returned cancer. Instead, Ellen’s mother bought him a suitcase for his birthday. “I don’t know if that suitcase qualifies my family for the Denial Hall of...
by admin | Jun 29, 2015 | Hospice, Patients, Volunteering
We recently sent out a plea to staff, volunteers, and our friends on Facebook to replenish our food pantry. The Facebook post was shared by 115 of you, and seen by more 8,500 people. The results have been astounding. This is the email we received from Nancy...
by admin | Jun 10, 2015 | Uncategorized
Dear Doctor, Thank you for the excellent care you have given me. I also appreciate your honesty in letting me know when I had reached a point in my disease where you could no longer make things better. You could have waited until I had only a few weeks – or even days...
by admin | Jun 1, 2015 | Fundraising, Hospice, Uncategorized, Volunteering
What’s better than hosting a great party? Hosting a great party for a great cause. A small, committed group of women helped produce Hospice Austin’s Vino y Virtuosos party for many years. Now the group has banded back together and is hosting a new event: A Venetian...