Literature Review

Mom, 26, dies days after choosing to enter hospice following 13 years of living with kidney failure (exclusive) People; by Zoey Lyttle; 12/18/24 Though she left behind a 4-year-old daughter, Sara Long told PEOPLE her feelings about death were "more certain" than they'd ever been when she started end-of-life care. “I think a lot of people spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to have a good life. And don't get me wrong, I did that too,” Sara Long, 26, told PEOPLE over the phone just shy of a week before she died at the hospice facility into which she had just recently moved. ... Long said she’s spent “the last two or three years” deliberating about her idea of a “good death.” She decided that it wasn’t just about how she would experience these last expected few weeks of her life in hospice. What Long really wanted was to be surrounded by her most precious loved ones — including her husband Justin, 32, and their 4-year-old daughter Riley Jean — but she didn't want them to watch her die while intubated and attached to hospital equipment as she was half of her life. “I just feel like if I pushed it any harder, then I was going to get to a place where it was going to be outside of my control,” said the mom of one. “I was going to wind up dying in a hospital alone, afraid, full of tubes, scared. My daughter wouldn't be able to be part of the process, and it would just be really lonely, and that's really not the goal.” Detached from the familiar yet foreign medical equipment, Long told PEOPLE she was freed from fear knowing she would only survive another couple of weeks in hospice. (She died with a week less than anticipated.) Editor's note: This another follow-up post to this profound young woman's story that we post on 

December challenge: Gift ideas part two ActiveRain; by Kat Palmiotti; 12/17/24 ... My mother dealt with cancer the last four years of her life with an upbeat attitude, ...  So what did she do with the time she had left? The same as always. It was late November 2011 at this point. So what she decided to do was to make a point of purchasing us all our last Christmas present. ... So for me, she purchased me a coffee cup with a lid which is pictured in the feature photo. ... But my mom didn't stop there. She also wrote each of her family members a handwritten letter. Her letter to me talked about me being her first born, and about what I was like during my childhood, and how she felt about my life as an adult. It was a beautiful letter that makes me smile and cry every time I read it. I treasure it. ... So why am I sharing this? Because when I think back on all the gifts I've ever received, it's not jewelry or clothing or anything else that pops into my mind first. It's a $5 cup and a piece of paper with writing on it. And both of those were my mom giving me love. So, when giving gifts to those you care about, give them love. Perhaps grab a piece of paper and a pen and let them know how much you care about them. Or buy them a small carefully selected item that they might use on a daily basis, smiling because it's from you. Because really, it truly is the thought that counts. Let that thought be love.

'You will NEVER be forgotten': 26-year-old Savannah mom in hospice care has died ABC WJCL-22 News, Savannah, GA; by Graham Cawthon; 12/13/24 A young Savannah mother who entered hospice care earlier this month has died. WJCL began following the story of 26-year-old Sara Long last year. Long was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease at the age of 13. Six years later, her mother donated a kidney to her. But the new organ failed.“We were expecting to have more time, you know," Sara told WJCL earlier this month. "I was just hoping to make it through the holidays, honestly." ... "I would rather have 26 really good years full of adventure and full of meaning and full of love and just the most beautiful people and I'm so glad that I got that instead of 100 mediocre ones," she added.On Friday, Sara's husband Justin confirmed that she had passed away. "December 12, 2024 at 10:20pm Sara Long passed away. I held her in my arms and told her I loved her as she took her last breath. Her kind and loving nature continues through our daughter Riley and me as she has shown me that men can be calm and loving. She has shown me that I can be the greatest dad and has shown everyone around her what true love and kindness is. I'm glad she lived a great 26 years instead of 100 mediocre ones. Thank you, Sara for giving me the absolute best 7 years of my life and the most beautiful daughter. You will NEVER be forgotten. I love you." Editor's note: We posted Sara's powerful video and quote in our newsletter on 12/6/24. Click here for her profound, inspirational video.

'A blessing': Hospital beds find new homes in families who had been praying for them Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX; by Nicole Villalpando; 12/13/24 Ron McDaniel had been trying to find a place for the hospital bed both his dad, Robert, and brother, Gary, had used in the assisted living facility where they were before they died. His father was a Navy veteran who was burned over 30% of his body during World War II. His brother had severe brain damage from a car accident in 1976 and was a quadriplegic. The electronic hospital bed with the extra comfortable mattress and the trapeze bar needed a new home. Ron McDaniel wanted it to go to a veteran or a veteran's family because it originally came from the Veterans Affairs, but he tried organization after organization with no luck. Meanwhile, Sandra Daniels was in desperate need of a hospital bed for her mother, Bertha Woodward, 87, who has heart failure, problems with her kidneys and limited mobility caused in part by neuropathy in her feet. Daniels could not afford a hospital bed but had been trying organization after organization for a year and came up empty. She had recently called AGE of Central Texas to see if they might have a hospital bed. ...Editor's note: Organizations who helped include 26th Statesman Season for Caring, Austin Palliative Care, ATX Firefighter Moving, AGE of Central Texas.

Northern Colorado cancer palliative care nurse leans on patients as she battles her own diagnosis ABC KJCT News 8, Fort Collins, CO; by Dillon Thomas; 12/11/24 A Northern Colorado woman who has spent years of her career helping patients navigate their cancer diagnosis says she leaned on her own patients for encouragement as she battled cancer herself. Riley Mulligan, a palliative care nurse navigator for UCHealth in Fort Collins, said she was able to battle her diagnosis of breast cancer by leaning into the courage of her patients while also taking lessons from herself. Mulligan’s journey battling cancer started nearly a decade ago, but the cancer she was helping battle wasn’t her own at the time. As a palliative care nurse, her job was to help some of the most ill patients that UCHealth treats. ... “I’m trying to take my own advice, I am trying to remember how to live. On the days I felt the worst, the most nauseous and tired, I still tried to get out and do things because I knew it would help me feel better,” Mulligan said.

Commentary: The coat my mother never wore National Public Radio - WBUR, Boston, MA; by Karen Propp; 12/11/24 Shortly before Thanksgiving 2018, I bought my 87-year-old mother a winter coat — a silvery-gray one that matched her hair. None of us could remember the last time she had left the house, spoken in full sentences or walked without assistance, but my father hoped that a new ultra-light coat might change things.  ... Having been close to others with progressive or terminal illnesses, I did not share his optimism. But it felt cruel to dash my father’s hope, so I hung the coat in the front hall closet, as if it were a talisman that could bring us a miracle. My mother died peacefully, late in the morning that December 24. By the time the men from the funeral home arrived, it was already dark outside. ...Editor's note: Click on the title's link to read how this simple coat evoked a daughter's grief, coping, and realization of her mother's qualities within herself. Non-clinical leaders: in case you're not aware, the extensive body of grief research reveals that grief does not have a last "stage" of "acceptance." Rather, mourning begins with a first step or "task" of accepting realities of the loss (Worden), with another step or "task" of establishing enduring connection (Worden)--which this daughter found within herself. These are not stages. Rather, they are ongoing cycles (mini and macro), with other identified, individualized dynamics.

Fabric artist's new exhibition in Historic Overtown sheds light on 41 years of wrongful incarcerationThe Miami Times; by Morgan C. Mullings; 12/10/24Whether volunteering in hospice, designing the prison magazine or leading the drama team, Gary Tyler lived an eventful life in prison. After 41 years of living in a cell he didn’t deserve to occupy, he found new life as an artist.  “Grief Not Guilty: Reclaiming My Time” features Tyler’s original quilts, photos of his mother and floral wreaths created by Quantavia Love. The exhibit speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of recognizing the names and faces of those yet to be freed. It is on display now at the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum in historic Overtown, a space dedicated to Black police officers of the pre-civil rights era and primed for discussions on the U.S. prison system. ...  After an angry anti-busing mob attacked him and other Black students in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, he was destined to live and die in prison. ... That prison would be one of the most notorious in the U.S. Louisiana State Penitentiary. ... Also known as Angola, Angola Plantation, The Farm, or Alcatraz of the South, Louisiana State Penitentiary is the largest maximum security facility in the country. Tyler refused to do the manual labor required at this prison farm, calling it “slave work.” 

Gift packages made for hospice patients in west Alabama WBRC 6 News, Birmingham, AL; by Kelvin Reynolds; 12/9/24 While it’s usually between people who know each other, that’s not always the case. A group in west Alabama arranged gift packages for folks using hospice and or home healthcare services who may not have many more holidays to celebrate. Anita Jones and others assembled dozens of care packages, working with Aveeno Home Health and Aveeno Hospice offices in Demopolis and Livingston to identify people in need. The company will distribute the care packages to its patients. ... McElroy Trucking from Cuba, Alabama helped pay for the items. They included books, blankets, shaving equipment, and other personal items.

From sleeping in cars to having an apartment: Season for Caring helps once-homeless families Austin American-Statesman; Austin, TX; by Nicole Villalpando; 12/8/24 When Thamairis Canales Yanez learned this year that she had been selected for the Austin-American Statesman's Season for Caring program, "what I did was thank God," she said. ... The 45-year-old and her 14-year-old daughter, Ivanna, came to the U.S. from Venezuela after Yanez's dental business was taken away by the government, and she feared for her daughter's life. She is trying to rebuild her life in America, but it has been difficult. At one point, she and Ivanna were living in her car. She has breast cancer that has spread to her brain. She is unable to work. Often when Season for Caring comes into the lives of the featured families, it is during one of their darkest times.  ...  "I have seen the impact on families," said Robin Clemons, chief development officer at Hospice Austin. "Imagine facing the end of life, and they can't pay their rent. (With Season for Caring funds) they don't have to worry about those types of needs. The stress for the caregiver, it relieves that burden."

HomeCare & Hospice seeking blanket donations to comfort hospice patients The Batavian, Batavia, NY; 12/5/24 HomeCare & Hospice is inviting the community to help bring warmth and solace to individuals in their final stages of life by donating new lap blankets. As the colder months approach, these blankets not only provide physical warmth but also deliver emotional comfort, offering a small but meaningful way for the community to support those in need. ... Blankets can be newly handmade or purchased from retail stores, offering flexibility for those who wish to contribute. Both options are deeply appreciated, as they provide comfort and care to hospice patients who need it most. Editor's note: This simple, practical request can be replicated easily, with meaningful outcomes. 

Holiday joy for children in hospice: Inside the North Pole ‘Fantasy Flight' at Dulles NBC Washington News4; by Joseph Olmo; 12/7/24 Early on Saturday morning, the crowd of almost 100 kids was buzzing with excitement as they waited to board their "North Pole"-bound flight out of Dulles International Airport. Some of the kids wore masks. Others were in wheelchairs, walked with crutches, or had lost their hair. Many are patients with Alexandria nonprofit Children's Hospice International (CHI) -- and all, though they may not know it, were celebrating what could be their last holiday with their families. It's a sobering fact that seems at odds with the joy and enthusiasm aboard the Boeing 777 airplane. But as United Airlines said in the press release, that's exactly the point of the flight. "Come join us as we fly some magic into the lives of children who need it most this holiday season," United said. And magic was provided. Flight attendants and pilots took their job very seriously as they guided passengers to their seats for the flight to NTP: North Pole International, of course. "Did we already write our letters to Santa?" asked one flight attendant, as she walked a family through the tinsel-decorated tunnel to the plane. "Yes," a tiny voice replied. The flight, begun at Dulles 34 years ago in 1990, is an annual event for children battling life-threatening illnesses, and their families. [Click on the title's link to continue reading this story.]

Non-profits join forces to help homeless in Texoma TexomasHomepage.com, Wichita Falls, TX; by Mariana Vela LEon; 12/4/24 This holiday season, you can give warmth as a gift to someone in need in Texoma. If you have extra winter clothing that you need to get rid of, consider donating it to two non-profits that make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Homeless Lives Matter and Complete TX Hospice Care are joining forces to help those who may be struggling to keep warm during the cold winter season. ... Editor's note: This simple, meaningful community outreach can make a significant difference. How might you replicate this--with fast turnaround--at your organization? Perhaps a drive among your employees and volunteers? Read this article for more of their logistics.

Bottles of bourbon signed by Pope Francis expected to fetch up to $20,000 for charity National Catholic Register; by Daniel Payne; 11/21/24 Two bottles of rare bourbon signed by Pope Francis are projected to net up to $20,000 for several Kentucky charities [and Southeast Texas Hospice]. Father Jim Sichko, a priest in the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, and a papal Missionary of Mercy, told CNA that the charity auction came about from Sichko’s habit of bringing Kentucky bourbon to the Holy Father and other Vatican officials during his trips to Rome. ... The whiskies are currently up for online bidding. A live auction will ultimately take place in New York at Sotheby’s on Dec. 7. The funds raised from the auctions — estimated by Sotheby’s at upward of $10,000 per bottle — will be donated to several charities, the priest said, including Southeast Texas Hospice as well as Maxwell Street Legal Clinic. The latter assists immigrants in Kentucky with legal needs. The proceeds will also go toward an assistance ministry run by Father Sichko as well as a no-kill animal shelter in Kentucky.