Helping the Hospice Helpers

Six years ago, my dad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. His first oncology appointment is a moment I will never forget. We knew he had cancer. We knew it was serious. But we didn’t fully understand what it meant.

At one point during the appointment, my dad looked his oncologist in the eye and asked, “Is this fixable?” His doctor replied, “Absolutely.”

My dad died four months later at the age of 49.

The last four months of my dad’s life were filled with doctor’s appointments, pain, and anxiety. He did not have what I would consider a “good death.” Unfortunately, we did not know about hospice and palliative care.

After my dad died, I struggled to make sense of the train wreck that had hit our family. I read a book called, Being Mortal, written by Atul Gawande, a surgeon. The first words read, “I learned a lot of things in medical school, but mortality wasn’t one of them.” I realized in that moment, that my family’s experience was not unique. That too many families feel lost and helpless when dealing with end-of-life.

Hospice and palliative care professionals are experts in the tough stuff. They are specially trained to deliver bad news with honesty and compassion. They help patients and families make difficult decisions. They manage the pain, discomfort, fear, and stress that comes with having a serious illness. They support families dealing with complex emotions and tense situations. And they honor the many layers of grief and loss that accompany illness and death. 

In the era of COVID-19, access to quality serious illness and end-of-life care is more important than ever. SpringForward MN will help MNHPC prepare for what's next. Please consider investing in the future of serious illness and end-of-life care by making a donation to Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care.