Testimonials & Hospice Experiences

Hospice Experiences

Zina Kramer

My mother, Sylvia Perlman, had been confronted with death long before she died. As a Holocaust survivor she stared down Nazi death squads, and survived as the Kovno Ghetto was liquidated. Later in life she had both breast cancer and colon cancer surgery and did well. But as Alzheimer's robbed her of her memory and later her physical capacity, she could no longer fight the way she did before.

For the six years she had Alzheimer's my sister and I, along with our husbands and children, had learned to deal with declining abilities. Our family developed a routine for taking good care of my mother and was fortunate enough to have in-home nursing care. But when a blood clot took away her ability to function, we needed more. As it became evident that my mother would probably not overcome her last hurdle, we needed a different level of family support. We had questions. We had emotions. We had concerns. Luckily we had Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network. Only hours after we made our call, answers came to our doorstep. With a sensitivity that is seldom seen or felt, Hospice created a cocoon of nursing and spiritual care that met both my mother's wishes and our family needs. People often say you don't get an owner's manual when you have children. I learned that people also don't get an owner's manual that tells you how one dies. JHCN became our living manual, filled with knowledge but understanding of the deep emotion that exists as a loved one passes on.

JHCN was able to remind our family of our blessings while making sure that my mother was enveloped with dignity as she entered her last battle.

Jewish Hospice helps those who need guidance in learning how to say goodbye. Your donation makes it possible.

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