Hospice Heart Moments
During the course of the last 35 years, many community members have discovered how many team members at LifePath Hospice embody the compassion necessary to guide patients and family members through the difficult journey of end-of-life care. Physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains and bereavement specialists work together as a team.
During Home Runs for Hospice, speakers’ shared very personal stories about how hospice affected their lives. Even though each individual told a unique and personal tale, there was a running thread through all — the quality, compassionate care provided by a team with hospice hearts.
Heart-wrenching News
As a little girl, Colleen Schiro imagined growing up and having a beautiful wedding and a house filled with children. A year after she married the love of her life, Jeff, they became pregnant with a little girl, who they named Quinn.
“I’m sure most parents will agree that from the moment you find out you are pregnant to the day you give birth, you envision all of the wonderful things you are going to do with your child,” shared Collen during the Home Runs for Hospice breakfast program. “Jeff and I imagined our little girl dressed up as a ballerina. Jeff talked about their father-daughter dance on her wedding day, and I couldn’t wait to teach Quinn how to play soccer and basketball.”
When Quinn was born, she was as beautiful as the Schiros imagined she would be. But just a few weeks after Quinn’s birth, Colleen knew deep in her heart something was wrong with their precious baby girl. “At two weeks old, Quinn wasn’t eating. In the weeks that followed, we were in and out of hospitals with Quinn enduring endless tests with no answers.”
By now, Quinn was three months old, and the days for the young couple were very difficult and long. Sometimes Quinn would cry for hours on end, and with each tear, Colleen’s heart broke even more. Finally at nine months old, Quinn was diagnosed with a rare and terminal genetic disorder, pontocerebellar hypoplasia.
Wonders of the Pediatric Program
“We were devastated by the news and the prognosis that Quinn wouldn’t be with us for very long,” continued Colleen. “Our hearts told us that we were going to have to live a life’s worth of experiences into a few short years. So we called hospice.”
The LifePath Hospice team, composed of experts in pediatric care, gave the young family wonderful gifts, such as no more endless hospital stays. They had Quinn’s medication delivered directly to their front door and had the peace of mind that their hospice doctor was only a phone call away.
“We fell in love with our LifePath Hospice nurse, Mary. She became a part of our family. Most importantly, the hospice team gave us the confidence and guidance to fill Quinn’s life with amazing experiences,” said Colleen.
The Schiros knew they couldn’t wait to take Quinn to Disney World when she turned 10, so the family went when she was just one year old. They needed to fill a lifetime of birthday parties into just a few short years. They wanted stories to tell, pictures to cherish and memories to hold tight in their hearts when Quinn was gone. They created Quinn’s bucket list and let the adventures begin.
Quinn was a star on Fox 13 and met celebrities like the New York Yankees head coach, the Navy’s Blue Angels and even recording artist Rascal Flatts. She was a big fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning and even rode the Zamboni. They crossed off trips on Quinn’s bucket list: Big Cat Rescue, Busch Gardens, Strawberry Festival and the Florida Aquarium.
“Jeff and I love baseball and vowed to take her to as many games as we could. Miami, Pittsburgh, Houston and Chicago were crossed off the list. She was a cowgirl in Nashville, saw the Washington Monument in DC, met Minnie Mouse in Orlando, took a carriage ride in Charleston and rolled in the fall leaves in Maryland,” shared Colleen. “We were able to do all of this because of LifePath Hospice.”
With hospice hearts, LifePath Hospice was by the Schiros’ side to not only care for Quinn but also for Colleen and Jeff. The team prepared them for each one of Quinn’s trips with extra medication and supplies and direction on what to do if they needed help while they were gone.
“LifePath Hospice shared in our joys and in our tears. In December 2015, Quinn’s body was starting to shut down. The team helped us prepare, not only medically but emotionally as well. As the time was near to say goodbye to Quinn forever, it was so important that our daughter’s last few days were not spent in a sterile hospital but in our own home. There she was surrounded by the things and people she loved the most. Family came and hugged on her and friends held her hands. We lay with her in her big girl bed, rocked and hugged her and gave her kisses one last time.
“We lost Quinn in the early morning of January 10, 2016. She was only two-and-a-half years old. They say it takes a village to raise a child. I say it takes a lot of love and support from family and friends and from people who help support the mission of hospice. Without hospice, Quinn’s story would have been very different,” concluded Colleen.
Chapters Health System is committed to serving the needs of its patients, families, caregivers, health providers, partners and communities.
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