Fall 2009: Jake and Nancy learned that Nancy's breast cancer was stage four. Winter 2013: They are still fighting. This is a gathering place to follow their story, offer support, love and prayers... to be by their side.



Monday, April 4, 2016

A Week into Hospice Care


Original Artwork Card from Uncle Jack
Friends and Family,
Jake here again with another post.

Nancy has transitioned into the care of the hospice team. We met with the intake nurse last Sunday, and we spent 2 hours going over the hospice services, reviewing instructions, transitioning Nancy’s medications, and ordering equipment. On Tuesday, we met for the first time with our assigned social worker and nurse together. We’re quite happy with them in particular, and we’re impressed with the overall service level of hospice. The nurse and the social worker will visit us on a routine basis (once per week or two weeks) to check in on us. In the interim, we can call the hospice triage line any time. 

My experience calling the triage line so far has been outstanding. During business hours, I’ve been talking to a nurse within 30 seconds. After hours, a nurse has been on the line within 3 minutes! The 3 or 4 calls I’ve made during the first week have all been related to breakthrough pain, and the instructions have been effective. Nancy needs to be in bed the vast majority of the time, much of which is spent sleeping. When she sits or stands too long, she experiences a great deal of pain. 

Nancy's spirits are good, and Operation Cards for Nancy certainly helps! She reads each card she receives and is touched by every one of them. At this point, she’s not able to respond to the thoughtful notes, but she wants each of you to know how thankful she is for your kind words of encouragement. Nancy feels an abundance of love from all of you! We think of you as the most important part of Nancy’s care team.

I’m deeply grateful to be able to take leave from work, and this enables me to care for Nancy full-time. My job mostly involves checking on her frequently, administering her medications, making sure she has whatever food/drink she needs, and, most importantly, just being there with her. With the help of the wheelchair that was delivered last week, we’ve been able to have a few brief outings. 

Thank you for your continued kind thoughts, prayers, and notes of encouragement. We’re incredibly blessed to have such an amazing group of family and friends.

P.S. My first draft of this post included a note about how good Nancy has gotten at loading/unloading the wheelchair from the car. Of course I was kidding, but it didn’t make the final edit.

Operation Cards for Nancy


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