Meet Mrs. Jones
When Mrs. Jones sat with her husband during a visit to the oncologist to learn the status of his condition and the next plan for treatment, she heard the news that the treatment was not effective and it was time to talk about hospice. She described a numb shock washing over her. The doctor was not ready to call hospice in just yet as her husband may have a year.
In the days that followed, she noticed her husband’s condition seeming to worsen each day. The year prognosis was changed to six months on the next visit to the doctor, and a hospice referral was discussed. Mrs. Jones’ numb shock then changed to thoughts of suicide. Mrs. Jones said to her daughter that she had been thinking how logical it would be for her to ‘leave’ when her husband did.
After Affinity Home Hospice met this lovely family and brought encouragement and support, Mrs. Jones began to open up emotionally about her fears and her great sadness. Who would have dreamed that Mrs. Jones would find a way to accept her husband’s impending death? She, with the help of her friends and family, would insist that her husband remain at home in his “man cave” for his final days. The days were filled with anxious waiting, tears, and laughter at stories from their life together.
Today, Mrs. Jones is finding her way in this new life script. Each time she feels afraid that she lacks the courage to face her life, she remembers how far she has come from wanting to die to being able to stand with her husband in his final days and hours.
Name changed to maintain anonymity.
