South Mag South Issue 71 | Page 81

THE LAST BREATH ENDLESS INSPIRATION AND LOVE COME IN OUR FINAL MOMENTS. A By BARRY KAUFMAN H PHOTOGRAPHY By D. PAUL GRAHAM It’s said that in our final moments we reveal who we truly are. With our last breath, we put a signature to our story. Few know this better than hospice workers. Tasked with seeing their patients through those final moments, they are witnesses to some of the purest instances of humanity anyone will take in. They are there to comfort, not just physically but emotionally. It is their job to wipe away any tear of guilt, to hear every story of joyful memories passed. Remorse and regret can be just as painful as the final throes of illness, and hospice workers are there to handle all of it. But make no mistake, in those final moments there are moments within moments. Glimpses of a life fully lived reveal themselves as we transition over. The result is a bittersweet yet endlessly inspirational calling. Ashley Nasworthy with Pruitt Health has been a hospice nurse for 11 years. She’s seen just as much sorrow as joy as she’s pursued the noble cause of providing aid and comfort to her patients as they transition. We asked what hospice means to her, and here is her stirring response. “Hospice isn’t a job, it’s a passion; a calling. I found my passion when I met Miss Christine. Our standing appoint- ments were at 12:30 so we could eat cookies and watch The Young and the Restless. Miss Christine was a widow and enjoyed the company. I loved our time together, I think I enjoyed it more than she did. “Were the cookies and soaps medically necessary? No. But it made her happy. That’s what mattered to me most. Miss Christine became another grandmother to me as we bonded over cookies and daytime TV. We are invited into a family’s inner circle during the most difficult transition of their lives. We serve not only as medical professionals but as those privileged to bear witness to the most intimate moments of a family’s life. Throughout this multifaceted journey, the patient, family and hospice team become one family. “Hospice offers the unique experience of time which is a rarity in the medical profession. An opportunity for the patient to become more than a number, but a person who receives one-on-southone care and love when it is most needed. Our team brings a holistic approach to caring for the patient and family, providing not only medical care but social, emotional and spiritual care throughout the journey of life. Spending quality time with patients, celebrating milestones, sharing tears and bearing witness to the tenderest moments at the end of life bring the hospice experience full circle. “Although Miss Christine took her last breath several years ago, the music box Christmas ornament I received from her many years ago still adorns my tree every Christmas. As a hospice nurse, it is truly a humbling experience to witness the last breath.” For more information, contact Pruitt Health at : (912) 927-9416 or go to PruittHealth.com. HOSPICE: HOW IT WORKS. Last year, 1.65 million dying Americans were cared for by hospice. Yet, there are some important facts about hospice that people don’t know. And this may be keeping people from getting the best care possible, when they need it most. • Hospice is a philosophy of care that recognizes death as a natural progression of life • Goal is to provide optimal pain ad symptom management while highlighting quality of life • Care is provided in the home, skilled nursing facility, assisted living or hospital setting • Patient and family involved throughout the decision making process • Cares for the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient • Grief support provided to the family for 13 months after the patient’s passing • Services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies • Patients receiving hospice care live an average of 29 days longer By the Numbers 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR DIE IN THE UNITED STATES. LAST YEAR 1.65 MILLION DYING AMERICANS WERE CARED FOR BY HOSPICE. 6,316 PEOPLE DIE EVERY HOUR IN THE WORLD. 71.3 THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS A PATIENT RECEIVED HOSPICE CARE IN 2014. HOSPICE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES CAN RECIEVE CARE FOR SIX MONTHS OR LONGER. 46 THE PERCENT OF CANCER PATIENTS THAT ARE IN HOSPICE CARE. 6K NUMBER OF HOSPICE PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES. HOSPICE CARE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO PROLONG THE LIVES OF TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS. THE POPULATION 65 AND OLDER WILL DOUBLE BETWEN THE YEARS OF 2000 & 2030. JANUARY/FE B RUARY 2018 81