Storybank Examples. Check out these patient stories from last year s Advocacy Intensive for assistance in sharing your patient stories.

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1 From: Crystal Finley CNA Sangre De Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care My patient I have chosen is Gomicinda Segura. I see her Monday through Friday every morning to shower her and get her ready for the day. Gomi has congested heart failure and pulmonary hypertension which effects her every day life. Gomi's heart is so weak now that she can only walk with significant help and short distances only. She has had to move out of her own home and into her daughters home for the extra assistance as she started falling more frequently. It was real devastating for her to leave her own home but she is very thankful to not be in a facility and to still have family and friends and hospice care. Hospice has benefited Gomi in more ways than one. Not only has it avoided family having to place the patient in a facility which would be a huge expense, but the patient also benefits from having a cardiac nurse home visit weekly (as Gomi's heart is not strong enough to be going out to dr appointments) a CNA 5 days a week for her shower, as well as a weekly social worker to discuss any needs or concerns, and let's not forget her twice weekly catholic chaplain that she looks forward too Gomi and her family would like members of congress to know that hospice has eased Gomi's load by responding to a volume of needs of a terminally ill patient with courtesy, respect, kindness and understanding by all team members. Hospice employees are well versed on regulations of insurance and Medicare, ensuring proper approvals for care, accurate billings and approval of material aids or supplies. Education is continual regarding expectations for next steps in progression of illness.

2 From: Jenny Schroedel Bereavement Services Coordinator Hospice of Kona Charles Davis had lived in Hawaii for more than 20 years, and most of his time there he had been on the streets. In his last few months of life, he was found in the bushes near a local university, starving, thirsty and unable to walk. Some local students found him there and then transferred him to the hospital, from there he was referred to Hospice of Kona's residential facility, Nakamaru Hale. Charles had been independent for all of his adult life, a "camper" and a "recycler," he had lived on the streets across the country, finally settling on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was also estranged from his family on the mainland. When he became ill he quickly lost his independence. I remember seeing him once on a beach outside Target, he took my hand and said, "I need a healer." I encouraged him to let Hospice of Kona care for him, as we are also healers, in our own way. Charles' life was radically changed when he came to Nakamaru Hale. For the first time in more than 20 years he felt secure. The house mom there learned that fried chicken and biscuits was his favorite food and would often cook those things for him. His physical health improved. Had he stayed in the bushes he would have died within days. At our hospice house he lived for seven months. With all basic needs finally met, he was able to pursue his dream of becoming a writer--as shown in this video. Charles Davis was happy to sign a release for this video and photo because it was his personal mission to help get the word out about hospice. He wanted to keep these services open and available to all -- it was not the medical care of the basic physical needs being met that meant the most to him.

3 From: Char Yoder Registered Nurse Center for Hospice Care At the prime of her life, Marilyn had a cerebral hemorrhage. She was 63 years old. She lived in a nursing facility for most of the next 20 years, separated from her 6 children by hundreds of miles Hospitalized and not responding to treatment, the physician said, "lets run all of the tests again, just in case we missed something. Family stepped in and said no. Mom had been through enough and it was time to love her with a natural death at home. The 6 children gathered with Marilyn at her daughters home. There was laughter, and tears music, cooking and games, things that they had done many times before. Her final week of life was an emotional and spiritual gift for the entire family. Providing care for someone at the end of life, 24/7 is a big commitment and can be exhausting. Hospice provided emotional support and reassurance that this family could do this. They provided the equipment, and expertise to assure the family that they could be successful at providing excellent care. It was a team approach. Nurses, social workers, hospice aides and spiritual care counselors all had a part. This patient is my mom. Hospice has been my career for 10 years so I knew our options for care when aggressive medical interventions were not working. We allowed her a peaceful death in my home, surrounded by her family. We said no to excessive medical spending at the end of her life. Sign the Patient Choice and Quality Care Act to ensure that all patients and family members know their options early and can make good decisions at the end of life.

4 Julie Assef Admissions Coordinator Seasons Hospice George was in his 40 s when his doctors told him that his treatments were no longer working and that it was time for him to think about hospice. He lived alone and had few friends, but had a trusted social worker and guardian. You see, in addition to having lived with persistent serious physical illness George had lifelong mental health issues. It was hard for him to trust people and even harder for him to feel like he was losing control. George loved animals, especially dogs. He was skeptical about having nurses come to his apartment but when we told him about our pet therapy program he became very excited. He called his social worker and said we have to go shopping, I m starting on hospice and I m going to need dog treats! Knowing George, she simply responded I ll be right over. Through the gift of pet therapy, our team found an avenue to establish trust and connection with George. Because of that trust, when he could no longer live on his own, he came willingly to our hospice house where he continued to receive visits from his therapy pets right through the end of his life, and allowed the staff to care for him and keep him safe. He told his social worker it was the best place he had ever lived. He told our Director of Volunteer Services that he liked feeling needed. George felt loved and needed by the hospice team, and he had a peaceful death. For George, it wasn t the technical expertise of hospice that made this happen. It was the holistic approach that hospice embraces, to see and honor the whole person, the whole life, to create a personalized plan of care that focuses on quality of life and dignity.

5 From: Julie Sayre Social Worker Hospice of the Panhandle Dan Maarten didn t let pancreatic cancer define him. He preferred to be known as a wonderful father to his 14 year old son Gabe, 17 year old daughter Sarafina, and a loving husband of 20+ years to his wife Patti. He lived the last seven months of his life as he did the other 48 years- in a large way. He thrived as an attorney, relished watching Gabe and Fina play sports, enjoyed hiking and playing in the waves at the beach. He sang in the church choir and even enjoyed a good cigar now and then was a devastating year for the Maertin s. First, Dan s serious diagnosis in the summer and then a house fire destroyed their home eight days before Christmas. When their house burned to the ground, friends raised more than $30,000 to help them get back on their feet. Between this generosity and the support that his family was shown through his illness and end of life, Dan s beliefs were strengthened. It was absolutely amazing, Patti said. Dan saw that support. He knew how lucky he was. Two days before he died, Dan moved to Hospice of the Panhandle s Inpatient Facility. There, in about an hour s time, the social worker arranged graduation ceremonies, one for Serafina from high school and one for Gabe from middle school. The ceremony was complete with caps and gowns, diplomas and balloons. The principals from each school attended to address the crowd, and Dan.And when Pomp and Circumstance played, a nurse on either side of Dan helped him stand like the rest of the guests. They helped us make a memory we ll keep forever, Patti said. I believe Dan would want to share the Hospice message with his Congressman. So much was done in such a short time with Dan.