For the past six months, it has been my pleasure to become acquainted with the hospice services in our community. These people go about this very important duty with little or no fanfare. I believe that the public should know more about what they do.

There are only two inescapable facts of life – being born and dying. The road of life is filled with adventure, some good, some great and some bad. When we come to the end, these are the people who make the difference. Death is never easy, especially for friends, family and loved ones. When someone dies unexpectedly, some relatives grieve and, hopefully, move on with their lives and retain fond memories of the departed, which can be savored at any time. But [for] another large segment of the population, death is a slow and agonizing process. Cancer, heart ailments … the list goes on … terminal illnesses can take an extreme toll on families – emotional and physical. A lot of families will reach out and contact hospice.

Hospice does not discriminate because of race, ethnicity or ability to pay. The patience and caring these nurses provide on a daily basis is unequalled in the medical profession. These angels of mercy must deal with families in their worst emotional moments and try to provide sense of purpose to the events. They must travel to hospitals, nursing homes and residences, not knowing what they will encounter. Some families are angry, others sad, but all share a common bond in the sorrow of losing a loved one. We must try to imagine what these nurses are feeling as they go to these places and give a piece of their heart and soul to families and the patients themselves. These truly are dedicated people; what they do is not about money or hours, but because they care.

Leonard Lavallee

Lighthouse Point