SPRING 2021
Empowering Hospice “Angels” “Our hospice nurse was like an angel who swooped in and helped bring clarity to a fuzzy situation where those of us with no knowledge or experience had any idea what to do. All I wanted was for my dad to be cared for in the best possible way, and she seemed to know exactly how to do it.” - A grateful daughter At Whatcom Hospice Foundation, we frequently receive notes from grateful family members referring to the Whatcom Hospice team as “angels” who made the passing of a loved one as peaceful, comfortable and natural as it could possibly be. We could not agree more – they truly are angels! Our compassionate team of caregivers and volunteers dedicate their lives to helping people through the end-of-life crisis, and your philanthropic support enables them to go the extra mile to ensure the the physical, spiritual,
and causing him pain, but this therapy was not covered under the Hospice Medicare benefit. Your gifts paid for treatment, enabling us to keep Mike more comfortable in his final days.
emotional and practical needs of patients and their loved ones are met. Your gifts empower the team to help in ways that insurance and Medicare just don’t cover. Sometimes even the simplest things make a big difference. Our patient Katherine lives in a nursing facility and is blind. She wanted to listen to audiobooks but was unsure how to do that. Thanks to you, Katherine’s volunteer purchased her a CD player and her favorite audiobook. Of course there are bigger, more expensive needs too. Mike required palliative radiation therapy to shrink a tumor that was pushing on a nerve
Sherri had been caring for her elderly father, Bob, in her home for ten years, and Whatcom Hospice had the privilege of helping her care for Bob during his final seven months. Shortly before Bob passed away, the hospice chaplain suggested that Sherri and her husband take a couple days away to rest and refresh. They were so grateful to learn that your gifts covered the cost of Bob’s care during their brief, but much needed break from continuous 24/7 caregiving. Whatcom Hospice currently cares for more than 225 patients on an average day, and your generosity plays a huge role in making sure every single one of them is as comfortable as possible, and that their loved ones feel supported through the end-of-life journey.
As a hospice partner YOU are an “angel” too! Thank you!
Supporting Grieving Families during the Pandemic By Michelle Walsh, Whatcom Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Coming to grips with the terminal diagnosis and subsequent death of a dear loved one is extraordinarily difficult, even under normal circumstances. In this past year the COVID-19 pandemic has made navigating the end-of-life journey even harder for patients and their loved ones. With your help, however, Whatcom Hospice staff members and volunteers have found innovative ways to support families during this time.
2
HANDMADE COMFORT PILLOWS Early in the pandemic we recognized the terrible impact of patients being separated from loved ones at a time when hugs and touches were needed most. Our hospice volunteers sewed soft felt touchstone hearts and we delivered them to both patients and family members, conveying the message of loving connection even when physically apart. Expanding upon this idea, our volunteer, Sheila Atwater, creates customized comfort pillows using photographs. Patients living in facilities receive a pillow with their loved one’s picture to hug and hold. Your contributions purchase the materials for these meaningful gifts. CLOSURE AFTER A LOSS After the death of a loved one, there are daily struggles. During the pandemic families have been unable to hold funerals and memorial services as they normally would. Our bereavement team has encouraged them to instead host gatherings online, share stories through writing, or consider a graveside parade of cars. Community support enables us to mail the book Grief One Day at a Time to provide daily meditations to help heal after loss. We include sympathy cards along with the books, often with handwritten messages inviting further connection.
BEREAVEMENT VISITS & SUPPORT TEAM The Whatcom Hospice Bereavement Services team has grown in the past months to serve our community. In addition to the bereavement coordinator, three bereavement counselors and an administrative specialist make up the team. Bereavement support visits can either be made in-person with the use of proper protective gear, or online using Microsoft Teams. The beauty of an online visit is seeing one another without masks! GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS Attending a grief support group can be very beneficial for those who have experienced a recent loss. Although we very much look forward to resuming in-person meetings in our beautiful bereavement center, support group facilitators have been humbled and impressed with how people have been willing to flex and adapt to meeting online. A ninety-year-old, grieving the loss of a lifelong partner, navigated this new technology with ease. Family members have joined group sessions from Point Roberts, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Several attendees have communicated their joy at the ability to join a group without having to drive in inclement weather or after dark. The online meetings have been so successful that we will continue to offer them even when we are allowed to meet in person once again. We would like to be able to purchase tablets to loan to those who do not have computers, so that more folks may be served through virtual groups. For more information about our bereavement program, contact Michelle Walsh at (360) 733-5877.
Thank you donors for making it possible to care for those experiencing profound loss. We appreciate you!
Thank you Legacy Society members! Whatcom Hospice Foundation gratefully acknowledges the members of our Legacy Society, who have included Whatcom Hospice in their estate plans. Our Legacy Society members play an important role in ensuring that future generations will have access to exceptional hospice care in our community. Anonymous Estate of Margarethe L. Allen Estate of Betty J. Allsop Estate of Leon Ashmead Alpough Estate of Alice Anderson Estate of Deborah L. Artis Estate of Richard Bajema Jo Ann Baker Diane and Robert* Becker Bill Birmingham Nancy and George Bitting Estate of Doris Bobbink Estate of Bertha and James Bosman Sandra Finney and Ed Bouverat, Jr. Michael D. Bradburn Estate of Stephen Brewster Estate of Barbara E. Brock Estate of Dolores W. Burlin Raymond Butler Estate of Alice Caler Estate of Louella Carlile Estate of Evelyn M. Christensen Estate of Dr. Frank H. Clark Estate of Joseph Clarke Estate of Joyce Cronk Estate of Charles Patrick Daniels Estate of John Warren Day Judy Doyle Pamela Hunnicutt and Larry Feeney
Lesa and James Ferguson Robin Foote Estate of Clyde Francisco Estate of Mary Freeman Sittrea Friberg Lisbeth and Alan Fritzberg Estate of John Gagne John Gardiner, DDS Carole and Mickey Ghio William Grace Estate of Stuart R. Graham Estate of Lois Jean Gray Harriett Green Nancy Grigsby Karen and Jeff Haggen Estate of Alice Hein Estate of Dorothy and Jack Heller Estate of Allen Ray Herrick Joel Hile Sylvia and Dennis Holmstrom Margaret Jacobson, MD and Richard McClenahan, MD Estate of Emma C. Johnson Estate of Juanda Dorothy Johnson Estate of Donald Kahn Linda Kane Cheryl A. Kellert, MD Estate of Paule Kelly Nancy and Tom Kenney Estate of Barbara Kiep Judy and Mike Kirkland Estate of Angela KlontzBrown and Byron Brown
Board / Staff List Board of Directors Lynda Erickson President David Yorkston Vice President Trisha McIntee Secretary Paul Twedt Treasurer Erin Baumgart Auction Co-Chair
Pattie Washburn Board Development Chair Doug Wight Past President Lynne Baron Erika Buse Katherine Deets Lesa Ferguson Lindsie FratusThomas
Carol Garguile Philip George Sylvia Holmstrom Tom Kenney Mike McCallum Richard McClenahan, MD Joyce Pedlow Charles Prosper Sarah Rothenbuhler Orphalee Smith Chris Sullivan Steve Swan Robert Tull
Rebecca and Dean Kummer Patricia Kust Estate of Magdeleine G. LeFerte Michael Langey Estate of Donna M. Larsen Estate of Kathleen Maberry Estate of Marlynn Matz McDearmid Charitable Trust Estate of Mary A. McDonald Cat McIntyre Estate of Winnifred M. McMurty Estate of Lajune Means Estate of Edwin H. Miller Estate of John Moore Estate of Patsy R. Morin Estate of James M Murphy Estate of Effie May Myers Estate of Ada Nieveen Estate of Nels Olds Stephanie Onkels Estate of Evelyn Oordt Catherine Ouweneel Estate of William Ouweneel Cathy and Dave Pauley Dr. Ingeborg Paulus Janet Prokopowich Estate of Annelise Pysanky Anne and Rob Rasmussen Ann Robbins Estate of Mary R. Robinson Estate of Mary Russell Salvatore Russo Karen and Michael Sansregret
Estate of Irmgard and Joe Schleiff Estate of Davida Schuett Kay and Fred Schuhmacher Estate of James R Scott Estate of LaVere Shaffer Estate of Genevieve Sharp Estate of Catherine Snider Estate of Helen Spitz Estate of Judy A. Stauffer Estate of Raymond A. Stewart Shaun Sullivan, MD Estate of Herman and Leah Tabak Estate of Leon “Lee” Taylor Estate of Robert Thomas Christine M. Thompson Betty and Robert Tull Delbert Vander Yacht Estate of Carl Vogt Estate of June Wai Li Jennifer Wilke Estate of Kenneth A. Wilks Anna Williams Estate of Anna Wilhelmina Louise Williams Estate of Gladys Wilson Amy Chan Wolsdorf Estate of Kit Hing Wong Estate of Jeane Yanco Joan Kropf and Alan Yordy *Denotes deceased
Britt Kane Foundation Staff Anne Rasmussen, MBA, CFRE, Associate Development Officer Chief Development Officer Shaaron Coleman Stewardship Coordinator Joanna Doyle Special Events Specialist Jennifer Fix, CFRE Development Officer Connie Gabelein Operations Coordinator Karen Haggen Legacy Advisor Emma Harris Administrative Assistant
Whatcom Hospice Leadership Shelley Rice, MD Medical Director, Hospice Gurpreet Dhillon Director Home Care Services Jodi Newcomer, RN, BSN Nurse Manager
Whatcom Hospice Foundation Mailing address: 2901 Squalicum Parkway Physical address: 3001 Squalicum Parkway Bellingham, WA 98225 phone: (360) 788-6859 email: info@whatcomhospice.org web: whatcomhospice.org Whatcom Hospice (Clinical Services) 2800 Douglas Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 733-5877
Please notify us if you do not wish to receive fundraising materials from Whatcom Hospice Foundation. Contact us at (360) 788-6859 or info@whatcomhospice.org.
3
Non Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LITHTEX NW 2901 Squalicum Parkway Bellingham, WA 98225
Proud to have these services in our community.
Making Whatcom Hospice a Retirement Plan Beneficiary As we prepare for tax season, we gather our papers from year-end. Bank statements, retirement savings statements; perhaps even some investment reports. Many of us find this is a good time to reflect and be grateful for all our blessings, our family and community. Many Whatcom Hospice friends have expressed their gratitude and asked how they can do more to help terminally ill people and their families in Whatcom County. Naming Whatcom Hospice Foundation as a beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement account is
one great way to make a significant gift to ensure that exceptional hospice care remains available to everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay.
We talk with people all the time about how to structure the gifts they want to make. We would like to help you learn to make the best plan for your family.
It’s also one of the wisest gifts you can make. Why? Loved ones other than your spouse pay a lot in taxes on whatever portion of your IRA or retirement fund you designate them to receive upon your death, while charitable beneficiaries are not taxed. Also, the amount you give to charity is not included in the value of your estate, so your family may actually get more as inheritance.
Please contact me for information:
Karen Haggen, Legacy Advisor (360) 788-6851 khaggen@peacehealth.org