Diane at Newberry Hospice:

Diane and Cary

I wanted to give a very special thank you to Diane, our hospice nurse.  Diane was there for us when Cary's dad, Troy, died three years ago, and was with us again for Grandma.  She is our friend.  We made her a Matthews.

Diane has a very emotionally hard job, in my opinion.  She helps people through their dying process and then, when she is attached to everybody, the person dies and she goes on to another family.  At the time the person actually dies, then she has to give them a little spit bath and changes them into clean clothes and combs their hair.  I didn't want her to have to do that by herself, so I helped her with that job both times, with Troy and with Grandma.   I feel like it helps support her a little, because I know that she is sad too.

The hospice business is a little competitive around here.  There are several in La Pine and several in Bend.  It is free to the patients, and you need to have a doctor say that you only have 6 months to live.  The government reimburses the hospice place for their work.  Newberry Hospice, here in La Pine, is excellent.  They also drive out to the Christmas Valley area to help people there.   

If you know of a family with a member who is terminally ill, it is such a better way to die in my opinion, instead of in the hospital or in a nursing home.  My Grandma T.  also died at home, and she used the hospice program in Eugene.  Not everybody knows that this an available service, so I just wanted to post about it, and tell Diane and Newberry Hospice thank you so much for all that you do for others.  

God bless you people!