We are here to help people of all ages and stages as they navigate the journey of dying, death, and grief. We are part of the journey; for those who wish to die where they live, for loved ones left behind, for a community that mourns the loss.
Stories
From Airdrie
My dad passed away last January 29th after battling brain cancer for more than a year. My mom took care of him day and night without rest. I could see my mom was struggling. She did not even have time to go for groceries or her own doctors appointment. Dad could not be left alone, and my sister and I could not miss a lot of work.
This is when I started to search for help and found the Airdrie and District Hospice Society. Lise contacted me right away and arranged for volunteers to stay with dad for a few hours so mom could take a much needed breather.
The hours they helped us were blessings for our family. I know I will be forever grateful with the service they provided to us. Daria, Arlene, Candace and Doug (I am hoping I didn't miss any one) are caring and loving people that without knowing us gave us their time and love.
Thank you,
Isabel Baez (April, 2017)
From Airdrie:
My husband Andre was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He did not have much time left and they sent him home where I, his wife could take care of him. To give me some respite from everyday stress, we contacted the Airdrie hospice society. We met the coordinator Angela Martel, and she introduced us to Don, Marleen, Heidi and Karen, all volunteers.
They spend 3 hours every week with Andre playing board games or walked around the pond with him.
We appreciate the professionalism and compassion of this organization and we grew very fond of the people volunteering their own time to help us out in a difficult time.
Thank you, Angela, Don, Marleen, Karen and Heidi.
Wilma and Andre (November 2018)
Airdrie and District Hospice Society
Letter of Support
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of support for the wonderful work you are doing to give others who have suffered great trials of terminal illness in our community.
One can never realize what a 14-year battle with five different types of cancer means. It means desperation trying to find that miracle that will save your loved one’s life. It means sleepless nights wrestling with many fears of the darkness of what is inevitable. It is trying to continue to be strong for you children even though you are weak and trembling inside every single day to fight this demon called cancer.
I can’t forget the endless trips into Calgary where again Drs. try to save your husband’s life-time after time. Every day you watch your best friend get thinner and you can see the fight is diminishing. And then the day happens where the specialist tells you the tumors are out of control. The dark curtain starts to close. There is no hope, no miracle. Your husband must go to a hospice. There is a two month wait. He must be hospitalized. We wait for that dreaded call. It comes!
Your husband is transferred to a Calgary hospice where they will medicate him and keep him comfortable until he dies.
Usually it only lasts a few days but my Scotsman’s strong will kept him fighting for two more months. The nightmare of the dreaded long drive home at 2 or 3 am, only to return, again at 6 the next morning. Watching him suffer. The drives got harder and longer to the point where my daughter had to talk to me until I got home for fear of my exhaustion on the long drive.
As I witness amazing people trying to open a hospice in Airdrie I can’t support this cause enough as I personally have journeyed through a very dark disease that took my husband’s life and the added pain of having to travel to where he was slowly dying certainly took its toll.
My prayer is that not one more person endures the added stress of having to journey to Calgary day after day waiting for the dreaded day where you have to say goodbye to a very special loved one!
Please support this great cause! These are very special people on a very important mission.
Thank You,
Nancy McPhee
Hike for Hospice 2017
Hike for Hospice 2016
