Hospice Austin’s Blog
You Make Our Mission Possible
The countdown to Amplify Austin is on and we need more secret agents to join our elite mission! For a fun Hospice Austin video we put together for Amplify Austin, the city-wide online giving festival on March 5-6, please click here.
It’s Time to Talk
Twenty-nine-year-old Brittany Maynard ended her life on November 1, 2014 with a lethal dosage of prescribed drugs. Her incurable illness was a tragedy. Her candor and willingness to share her final days with the public were acts of courage which illustrate the need to...
The Lavender Ribbon Project
Jason Michael Bryant hates cancer. Doesn’t matter which kind, he hates them all. Unfortunately, he’s something of an expert – both his mother and stepfather died of the disease within six months of each other. Now, Jason is on a mission to inspire others. The...
Dying Peace
Patients and families face the terribly difficult question of what to do after being diagnosed with a progressive cancer. Based on the numerous slogans and war cries to “win the fight” and “beat cancer,” it’s not surprising that many patients and families opt for chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Being Brave: The Courage to Just Do It
The whole point of having the bicycles was to bike Belize. And the whole point of biking Belize was to get an up-close look at that beautiful country. So in early November (1989) we stored as much gear as possible at our hotel in Merida, Mexico; loaded ourselves and...
The Healing Power of Music
As soon as I saw the expression on the faces of the staff at Doug’s House, I knew something was wrong. Our patient, Mr. Smith,* they told me, was not feeling well and would be going to the hospital. He would have to miss the concert that had been arranged especially...
Camp Brave Heart Adds An Extra Day of Support
Thanks to a generous donor, Camp Brave Heart is adding an extra day to camp this year! It will be held August 4 – 7 at John Knox Ranch near Wimberley; applications are available now. Camp Brave Heart is a free camp for children age 6 – 17 who are grieving the death of a loved one.
Being Brave: The Courage to Let It Go
By the time Bill and I had been in Mexico for several months we were finding our groove. We knew how to pick out the café’s and market stalls that had the best food; we had figured out how and when to haggle for a deal; we were getting the hang of hand-washing our clothes; we had learned how to cut each other’s hair; we were navigating transportation and money pretty well; our Spanish was improving daily; and we knew to always, always carry our own toilet paper.
Being Brave: The Courage to Relax
After a full summer spent volunteering on the border of South Texas, Bill and I set off, bicycles in tow, into Mexico.
Nourishing Body and Soul
The Vargas family wanted to do something special for the patients, family and staff at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House after their father died here in March 2011. In 2012, they brought flower arrangements for all our patients. This year, in honor of their father’s birthday, they cooked a delicious Mexican meal. As an added bonus, it started snowing!
Our current families appreciated not having to go out anywhere to find food, and the Vargas family said they loved it because they got snowed in when their father was here.
