Amber and Lance: In Her Words…

My 49-year old husband, Lance, entered Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions inpatient hospice home on November 18, 2017 following a month stay at Wyoming Medical Center. Lance and I were married for 18 years and have two sons: Tristen, 9 years old & Trevor, 10 years at the time.

11/17/18
One year ago, we were introduced to our hospice family. They came to us, meeting us at the hospital. Then I went to the hospice home to take a tour of the campus and I was met by phenomenal nurses and CNAs. They answered every question I had bringing peace, love, and a joy that hit my spirit so compassionately. I knew without a doubt this home is where Lance would want to live his final days, and the boys and I would be most comfortable here as well. Even before Lance was transferred, we experienced being a part of the hospice family.

When Lance was transferred into Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions, he was more cognitive and alert that he had been in quite a while. Lance was happy to be there. The first thing we did was bring Dakota, his beloved dog, in to see him. It was a joyful reunion! Family and friends also came in to see him.

The boys made themselves at home and especially loved spending time in the family room playing the piano, the computer, the gaming system, and relaxing in the comfy reclining chairs. Friends brought in food for us — enough for all the guests we had as well. The aids also brought in an air bed and blankets as the boys and I would be staying with Lance.

One morning the boys and I had breakfast in the hospice home with Lance. He was not alert like the day before and he was so tired after eating. We listened to Trevor play the piano and then took him to his room to rest. It was then that the nurses informed us he was already at end stages and he was given approximately a day or two.

At the time of year Lance was in hospice care one of our favorite family traditions was to go to the "Lighting of the Trees" at the park across from the hospital. On the day of the tree lighting ceremony, Lance peacefully went unconscious. We were saddened with heavy hearts that we would not get to go see the lights one more time together as a family. That is when I turned around and there was a Christmas tree lit up with beautiful colored lights in my husband's room. The nurses had taken it upon themselves to bring the "Lighting of the Trees" to us. It was a very special gift they had given to our family.

Lance had shared with our boys that he would sleep under the Christmas tree as a young boy, so Tristen chose to sleep under it that night just as his Daddy had, and right beside his Daddy. It was a time we will cherish in our minds and hearts forever.

11/20/18
One year ago, at 3:50 in the morning, Lance peacefully made his grand entrance into Heaven. The boys and I were blessed to have been with him at that time.

In our deep grief we learned that love, compassion, and kind care for others brings a balm of healing that soaks into the spirit and soul in the midst of the pain. There is a comfort in knowing we truly are not alone in this difficult transitional journey. We learned that caring for the family as a whole is so critical to the patient and the family unit as it allows each person to feel that they matter, they are seen, and they are loved both individually and as a family in their most difficult time. We learned that anyone can be like family, which we all have need for, if we truly care for others.

Thank you to all of you as you have walked parts of this year's journey with us in various ways. We are so very grateful for you. To me, hospice means "family". Both of my parents have passed and when my husband was passing the staff and volunteers treated us as family. To my sons, hospice means "memories". They made memories with dad and they are making new memories now. Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions met us where we were in our most difficult time in life and have continued to walk this journey with us to this day. I am honored to be a part of the hospice team and help others in their journey.