The Heart of it All, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Heart of it All

"We are  committed to caring for individuals touched by life limiting illnesses, grief and loss. Our hope for our patients and families is that as we apply our training, experiences and compassion, we are able to relieve their physical, emotional and spiritual pain.  Our patients and families have the assurance that they are being served by one of the oldest and most respected hospice programs in Northeast Texas."   Cypress Basin Hospice

Last night we attended the annual charity hospice ball for the second year.  Mark Scirto was the emcee again this year and he is quite a special person. Good food, good friends, good dancing, good auctions and a good cause.

 The time we have between this life and the next I like to think of preparation to the day of continuation. Hospice walks with families through out this entire journey.

Many people do not realize Hospice serves more than the last few months or days before death. Hospice is available to families from early on.   They set up weekly visits to monitor patients and as the decline sets in, Hospice ups their services to provide all the needed things to make the situation both livable and comfortable right to the end. No suffering is needed. Pain does not have to be part of this transition. Hospice meets the needs for the patient as well as the family. 

Hospice has played a part in our lives often, with Terry's brother, his mom, his dad and now with my dad. I encourage you all to donate and give to your local hospice knowing you gift a peace to many families.

Words of my heart, Laurie


"For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:1-2 NIV

With Dignity, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

With Dignity

Alzheimers is a cruel disease. You read about it. You shudder not wanting to read about almost like you want to keep your distance from it in case it is 'catching'.

When my father was diagnosed with it many years ago, we embraced it as it happened as a family, but did not realize the burden our mother carried as she tried to keep things 'normal'.  She has grown a great deal since those first years as it almost cost her own life caring for him.

Over the past years we have read and implemented various things into the mix to deal with this disease as we watched it march through our father destroying his memory. At the same time we watched the effects it had on our mother and our entire family.

I am reflecting back today over this journey grasping memories from the past years and linking them to memories from his healthy years.  Dad is in the last stages of this disease.

Only my father would do it his way and not the way it is suppose to be. He retains his dignity, his grace and his 'gentlemanly' ways. His temperament stays even on moderate drugs and when you give him a sip of thick ice tea, his eyes sparkle and he says, "That is mighty good."

I am making new memories now with him, and realize even Alzheimers has not taken the core of this man... the spirit that God placed in him at conception 82 years ago. My father is dying with God's grace upholding him. Ever the gentleman, ever the caregiver, his words when spoken are often in reflective concern for mom and for 'the kids'.  In some ways he seems back in the 'now' and not the past.

Over the next month I am or may not be blogging as much as we have set our schedule to be in and out of Dallas on a regular basis to be with him and to be with my mother.  This 180 degree turn with his health occurred the first part of November and we watched this fairly heathy Alzheimers patient become bedridden and withdrawn. The nurses say it is part of the end of the journey.  My dad is walking this path with dignity and God at his side.

Words from my heart,
Laurie

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1,26 NIV