Last Stage Comfort
“At the last stages of his life, he needed a feeding tube and I knew it was time to talk to about what is next.   This team helped me and were so gentle and took time to assist my understanding of what will happen to my beloved in the terminal stage of his life.  What was important to me was the spiritual feeling I received after speaking to them.  I was so comfortable knowing I could call them at any time. John was brave and strong to the end.  He died peacefully January 15, 2006.”

Pain Reduction
From a patient who had an initial pain score of 10+ and whose final pain score was 0: “Doctor, no one else has been able to help me with this pain, if you think you can fix it, you must think you’re some kind of a miracle worker.”

A Mother's Grief
“I miss Michael so much, I thought this would be easier.  Nothing can prepare you for the loss of a child.  Thank you for being there for me.”

Hospice Support
At 52, Melvin was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer.  Chemo had failed and 3 hospitalizations later, including one ICU stay, he now needed care at an ECF.  He refused hospice care several times.  The oncologist asked the PC team to speak with him about hospice support.

NP:  “I know of  a program that will help you live through tomorrow, the next day, the next week and so on.  It’s time to get on with living.  The program is called hospice.”

Melvin:  “That sounds absolutely wonderful, why didn’t anyone tell me about that program before!”

Providing Needed Information
At 92 years old, Marie had a fall and suffered a broken hip and  respiratory arrest.  At the hospital she was placed on life support.  The family wanted life support removed but was hesitant.  “The palliative care team gave us the information we needed to make the right decisions for her and also told us what to expect.”  Life support was withdrawn, care transitioned to hospice and Marie comfortably expired 2 days later.  

Supporting Patients in Critical Stages
“In fact, palliative care aims, especially in the case of patients with terminal diseases, at alleviating a vast gamut of symptoms of physical, psychological and mental suffering; hence, it requires the intervention of a team of specialists with medical, psychological and religious qualifications who will work together to support the patient in critical stages”.

—John Paul II, November 2004, Speech to the Pontifical Council for Health