THE Journey Our Lady of Peace Home VOLUME 6 - 2015 PAGE 3 PAGE 10 Care for the body. Comfort for the soul. PAGE 5 Our Lady to become official residential hospice Our Lady of Peace is in the process of changing its standing hospices for this symptom management but will not charge the from an end-of-life nursing home to a residential hospice. individual patients. Once stabilized, patients may return home The switch in licensure is intended to focus on Our Lady’s or stay at Our Lady free of charge if they meet guidelines of end-of-life care mission and to bring about greater clarity in public perception, leaders say. Our Lady’s many valued healthcare offerings, according to Directorfinancial need,”of Hospice Kathryn and said. Home The Care new Nancylicensure Larson. will streamline It means CEO Joe Stanislav said he welcomes the change and its more levels of hospice – all but one, continuous in-home care – impact on public perception. “In most people’s minds, we can be offered right at Our Lady by its expert staff in its serene appear to be and truly are a residential hospice,” he said. environment. “That’s a huge advantage to us,” Nancy said. “Years ago when we had much longer stays, the nursing home designation was probably more accurate.” “I don’t think this will change what we do in the community that much, except that now we have this great resource for our patients,” Nancy said. “We felt like we should be regulated according to what we are,The rathernew licensure than what will we reflect aren’t.” the present reality, Joe added. Our Lady’s management team is trying to walk the staff through other adjustments that will come with this licensure. Kathryn Wornson, vice president of end-of-life care, echoed For one, it will require more documentation. It’s been an that sentiment. “In the past, the hardest thing was the education, learning what and how to document according perception of the public,” Kathryn said. “We felt like a hospice to hospice regulations, Kathryn said. Also, she anticipates a but weren’t licensed as one.” need for more nursing and physician services. As a licensed residential hospice, Our Lady will still primarily Ultimately, the licensure change allows Our Lady to build care for patients referred by other hospice providers and hospitals whose symptoms are uncontrolled, a specialty of doing,” Nancy said. “We’ll be even better than what we have Our Lady’s caregivers. “Our Lady may now bill these other beenupon inits the fine past.” tradition. “This will improve what we’re already 1 The Journey Guidance through the four gifts of hospice As chaplain of Our Lady of Peace, helping patients prepare for death is part of Susan Adam’s job description. One of the tools she uses is a simple process called “The Four Gifts of Hospice.” Susan walks each patient through the four-step process with patients. She sometimes guides their loved ones through it too, as it also applies to them. One young patient was declining rapidly and preparing to part with his two sons, an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old. “I can’t do this,” the father told Susan. She suggested he write a letter to each son, which he did – a gift the boys can keep forever. Being an attentive chaplain means meeting each patient where he is at; the four-step process is often a jumping off point for other spiritual discussions, Susan said. One patient could no longer speak but starting yelling. He was angry at God about the premature death of his son, and now he was fearful of his own death. Susan handed him a little white board and sat next to him in his bed, inviting him to write a message to God. “God,” the man wrote, tears streaming down his cheeks, “I’m very sorry for hating you for so many years. It’s just because I loved my son so much.” When he handed the white board back to Susan, he looked visibly relieved. His wife was crying too and sensed the peace that had washed over him. “There are so many powerful experiences like that,” Susan said. “I just feel humbled.” The Four Gifts of Hospice 1. I’m Sorry/Please Forgive Me 3. Thank You A time to share thoughts and feelings, a time when it For who you have been in my life, my husband, my wife, is possible that a forgiveness and reconciliation are my son, my daughter, my mother, my father, my sister, my experienced. We can say we are sorry for anything that brother, my friend. A time to do some life review, looking may have gone wrong between us in our relationship with at the good times and maybe those not so good. Getting out another person. the family photo album or videos and sharing, expressing one’s thankfulness for who this person has been in my life. 2. I Love You 4. I’ll Be OK Sometimes a more meaningful “I Love You” is able to be expressed after an honest “I’m sorry” has been shared. This may be the hardest but nevertheless a most important People like to hear the words “I Love You” said out loud. one. It is both giving and receiving permission to let go. This expression is not something to take for granted. Not that there won’t be pain and grieving, but it may be the time to say goodbye and let the other person know you will be OK. Practice wellness As chaplain of Our Lady of Peace, Susan Adam speaks often about practicing wellness and shares this with patients and their families. Know your basic priorities. This knowing allows you to measure your decisions with no regret. Treat yourself healthfully; only in this way will you be able to fully treat others well. You must provide the best for yourself before it can be available for others. 2 A sacred space to say ‘I do’ The opportunityPatient Profile to get married in the presence of her beloved father is one that Dana Mjolsnes will always be grateful for. Our Lady of Peace provided the perfect backdrop for one of the most joyful days of her life. Dana and her fiancé, Myles, had looked forward to getting married in 2015 and decided to speed up the process when her dad, Dallas Sirany, seemed to be nearing death. The big-hearted 89-year-old had raised six children: Carol Flint, Pamela Batory, Joanne Tagney, Ginny Sirany, Mary Davis, Dana Mjolsnes and twin sons Peter and Joseph Sirany. He was a first-generation American, the youngest of 13 children raised by Austrian immigrants who had once worked for the Queen of Austria. A devout Catholic, Dallas was widely admired for his deep-seated faith and quick-witted resourcefulness, well channeled Dallas Sirany embraces his new son-in-law, Myles Mjolsnes, through his work as a mechanical engineer. who married Dana (right) in an intimate ceremony at Our Lady of Peace Home on April 17. Dallas’ wife, Diane, looks “That never went away,” Dana said. “He even found a way on. “It could not have been a more perfect day,” Dana said. to make his Kleenex box stick to the side of the table [while staying at Our Lady].” Praying the rosary every day at 3 pm was a cornerstone of Dallas’ vibrant faith. He urged his family to embrace Over the years, Dallas lovingly his religion while never forcing it or making them feel welcomed 20 grandkids and 14 judged. He instilled the belief that every baby is a gift great-grandchildren, including from God. When his prostate cancer had spread, Dallas a great granddaughter who voiced appreciated for Our Lady and its spiritual setting, was born one week before where he was able to receive Holy Communion daily and his death and named Raelynn see the Franciscan sisters. Dallas in his honor. Her parents brought her to Our Lady when Dana’s sister Joanne first raised the idea of getting she was 4 days old and laid married at Our Lady when their dad appeared to be her in her great grandpa’s failing last spring, exacerbated by an infection. Medical arms. The newborn fussed as Four-day old Raelynn Dallas, professionals advised against travel. The staff of Our they transferred her and then named after her dying great Lady warmly and immediately agreed to the request of appeared at peace as soon as grandpa Dallas, was able an on-site wedding. Dallas eagerly anticipated it, running she settled into his arms, never to meet him just one week a countdown he often cited. making a peep. The two slept before his passing. together peacefully. It was as Their courtyard vows were witnessed by a judge and if her great grandpa’s gentle an intimate group, set against a blooming backdrop. “It presence soothed her, Dana said. “It was beautiful.” was such an emotional event that could’ve have gone better,” Dana said. “I would’nt have changed anything.” Dallas was beloved by all his grandchildren and enjoyed Even the weather cooperated, warming up to 82 degrees, meaningful visits throughout his stay at Our Lady. An uncommon for mid-April. 11-year-old granddaughter held his hand as she sang him a prayer the week of his death. Dallas was adored for Dallas passed away on Sept. 15, but his memory lives talking like Donald Duck to a 4-year-old granddaughter on – in Dana’s wedding album and in her heart.