You Have a Hand in the Care We Provide!
When 13-year-old Leonel was admitted into hospice, he and his family had already faced many ups and downs with his diagnosis of liver cancer. Despite all of those challenges, this close-knit family with four children remained full of love for one another.
“Upon meeting Leonel and his family, it was immediately clear that their hope had never truly been diminished, despite serious bumps in their path,” said Marta, Leonel’s hospice nurse.
Thanks to you and your support of our mission, our hospice team was able to quickly begin providing comfort and expert care for Leonel and his family.
“We were able to provide gentle massage for Leonel and his mom, make a family playlist of meaningful songs, and create a collaborative legacy art piece with all of the kids,” said Whitney Clay, Art Therapist and Integrative Medicine Program Coordinator.
With this legacy art piece, each sibling drew a picture, traced their hand over the piece then cut out their handprints. We painted the canvas his favorite color, and Leonel arranged each hand around a central heart to make a collage. When the piece was delivered, Leonel asked to have his parents’ hands added to complete the piece.
Legacy projects like these can be especially meaningful for our patients and families, serving as a memento and representing the lasting impact that they have all made on each other’s lives.
Remarkably, on a follow up visit, Leonel’s medical team was shocked to see that his cancer had shrunk, and he became a candidate for radiation treatment. Because of this development, Leonel was transferred from Hospice to our Bright Path Program that provides palliative care to pediatric patients living with serious illness.
“Naturally, the family’s past experiences with treatment outcomes made them hopeful, but anxious, about leaving hospice care. I believe that it brought comfort knowing that Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Palliative and Integrative Medicine teams were going to remain involved in Leonel’s care,” said Marta.
“I made a promise to them that our hospice team would be here, ready, if ever they need us to join their journey in the future.”
—Marta, Hospice Nurse
WWII Veteran Maxine Handziak Honored for Military Service
Recently, Bluegrass Care Navigators honored Maxine Hamon Handziak for her service with a Veteran’s Pinning Ceremony. As part of America’s Greatest Generation, Maxine volunteered for the Women’s Reserve in the U.S. Navy, better known as the WAVES, in 1943.
The pinning ceremony is a powerful moment for veterans and their families. Typically, a local veteran volunteer will perform the ceremony, thanking the patient for their service and giving them a certificate, blanket, and flag pin in appreciation. The service concludes with a prayer, if desired, and a salute to the veteran.
As part of Maxine’s ceremony, her family had set up a table display with photos and memorabilia of her and her husband’s life together. This included pictures, newspaper clippings and Maxine’s military cap.
“Although she couldn’t remember a lot of stuff on that table, when Neal did the salute, her tiny, frail hand came up, and she returned his salute,” said Esther Sapp, Maxine’s Chaplain who attended the ceremony. “Due to her hearing loss, I’m not sure what she heard, but she definitely felt honored and appreciated, and her sense of humor came out.”
Sapp described Maxine as someone who had learned to live in the present. When Volunteer Neal Riggs, also a veteran, presented Maxine with her blanket, she felt it and fiddled with the knotted ties. One of her kids approached her for a closer look. Maxine’s sense of humor shone through as she teased, “Don’t try to take my blanket!”
Upon intake, patients and families are invited to share patient care goals and are made aware of a variety of volunteer services that include veteran pinning.
Seeing Through the Pain
While art therapy is primarily a mental health profession, in hospice care it can frequently help to address physical symptoms and legacy-making needs for our patients and families. A recent referral from Northern Kentucky provided an opportunity to see the ways that these two areas of art therapy can blend seamlessly to address patient care goals.
Initially, the patient was referred by the team with a goal of legacy making for her young grandchild. However, during the art therapy assessment, the patient spent much of the visit sharing her struggle with transitioning to hospice care after an active life. “She described
depression and pain that made it difficult to interact with her family. So, we decided that her future art therapy visits would focus on a goal of symptom management and emotional expression before addressing legacy making,” said Art Therapist, Whitney Clay.
At the next visit, the patient’s daughter-in-law joined in at the table. The art invitation was to trace their hands on the page and to use the art materials to depict things they had touched or been touched by throughout their lives. The instructions included the use of their nondominant hands. This practice requires participants to use both sides of the brain, which often elicits surprising feedback. As the women worked side by side, they talked about their shared experiences, with the daughter-in-law expressing gratitude for the ways she had been nurtured by the patient.
The patient’s art image was striking. She had worked to identify people and experiences that had touched her during her life, but they were hidden behind long lines radiating through the traced hands.
Through tearful eyes, the patient explained that the lines depicted her pain and was stunned when Whitney verbalized her experience of not being able to see the things she loved because it was hard to look through the pain. She cried as she processed this simple observation.
“Afterward, we talked about advocating with her care team to manage symptoms and about techniques such as mindfulness that might allow her moments of connection,” Whitney said. At the end of the session, the patient asked if the next visit could be scheduled so that her husband could participate, hoping that they might both be able to share feelings and connections through art.
“While I continue to work with this patient and family, I look forward creating a piece of legacy artwork as initially planned,” said Whitney, “but I feel that the true legacy will be supporting the strong and loving relationships in the family by offering her moments to ‘see through the pain.’”
Navigating Through the Journey of Grief
Did you know that Bluegrass Grief Care is not limited to hospice patient families? With the support of donors like you, our Grief Care services are available to anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one.
Like Milo, who attended our Camp Hope at 13 years old after he lost his father to a sudden heart attack in 2017. For Milo and his mother, Yanya, our Grief Care services gave them a sense of belonging as they dealt with their grief in a compassionate and supportive setting.
Camp Hope is a free bereavement camp for children in our service area who have lost a loved one. It offers a safe environment for kids and teens to express their grief, learn how to cope with difficult feelings and to support one another.
Since his time at Camp Hope, Milo found a way to give back to Bluegrass Care Navigators by donating gifts for other kids who are grieving the loss of their loved one.
Now, a student at Stanford University, Milo continues his mission to instill hope and confidence to children in need through his charity efforts and support for Bluegrass Care Navigators. “Despite the demands of college, I am committed to this cause and believe that everyone can make a difference in their own way,” Milo says.
Thanks to the support of donors like Milo and our Caring Community, our trained and caring staff is available to help surviving family and friends cope with their grief. Support groups and short-term individual counseling services are available to children and adults, as they navigate through their journey of grief.
“At Camp Hope, I felt like I had a home, a refuge,” Milo remembers. “I’m still in contact with some friends that I made there.”
—Milo
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Matthew Moffett’s Story
After diagnosing him with autism and cerebral palsy, Matthew Moffett’s doctors said he would never walk or talk. Through therapy, determination, prayers, hard work and positive thinking, Matthew defied the odds and today, not only walks, talks, drives, and has a job, but also is the handler for Rosie, Bluegrass Care Navigators’ inpatient therapy dog in the Lexington area.
When Rosie joined the Moffett family three years ago, Matthew’ mom Patty, a nurse at Bluegrass Care Navigators, thought it would be perfect for her son since he loves animals and helping people. Now, one evening a week, the Moffetts take Rosie to visit patients at the Bluegrass Hospice Care Center at UK Healthcare.
“The gift of getting to help people means so much, especially with my story because I can teach people that it will get better,” Matthew said. “It’s basically become my family’s mission,” Patty said. “We enjoy doing that together and it’s just neat to watch my child, who has autism and cerebral palsy, go out and minister to these families and patients of ours.”
Every visit is different, but Patty and Matthew remember one patient specifically. The patient was in respiratory distress, non-verbal and missing their dog. After entering the room, Matthew asked if he could put the patient’s hand on Rosie’s head. The patient calmed immediately, and Matthew and Patty know that being able to pet Rosie gave that person a sense of peace.
“They know that the dog is there, and it’s really hard not to get emotional,” Matthew said. “It’s neat to see the patients light up with happiness and gives them something to look forward to.”
Vicky Thomason’s Story
As an oncology patient, Vicky Thomason saw first-hand the gift of joy and healing that therapy dogs brought to patients. As she recovered, she wanted to give that gift to others. So, three years ago, she and Sola, her sevenyear-old Doberman Pinscher, went through the certification process with Love on a Leash. Now, as BCN volunteers, they put their paws together to provide comfort, conversation and emotional support to patients and families in the Cynthiana region.
Recently, Thomason and Sola visited Terri Wiedemer at Edgemont Healthcare. Prior to the visit, Wiedemer hadn’t seen a dog in 10 years and never stopped petting Sola during the hour-long visit.
Sola’s presence held space for Wiedemer to reflect on her family and grandmother’s Doberman, Carl. Wiedemer fondly recalled how she would lay on or next to Carl as a child, and he never minded. During the visit, Wiedemer and Thomason talked about grandchildren, favorite pets, and life events.
“I think our visit really benefited her,” Thomason said. “Terri said that she was having a rough day, but this brightened her day, so hopefully the rest of the day will be better for her.”
“Sola is the best Bluegrass Care Navigator... She made my day!”
—Terri Wiedemer
Bluegrass PACE Care Helps Patient Thrive
Maxine Myler-Cook prides herself on never wasting a day in her life. But after receiving a serious diagnosis almost two years ago, becoming wheelchair bound and suffering an unrelated illness that left her legally blind, she spent a year on her sofa enveloped by her own misery. In January 2023, she decided it was time to start living again and enrolled in Bluegrass PACE Care.
Bluegrass PACE Care admitted its first patient in September 2022 as the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Kentucky. This program coordinates all aspects of participants’ care through a team of clinicians and services provided at the PACE Center. It is available to individuals aged 55 or older who qualify for a nursing home level of care, who live in the service area of the PACE organization, and who can continue to live safely in the community with the helpo of PACE services.
PACE services are covered 100% for individuals with Medicaid or both Medicaid and Medicare. Medicare only and private pay options are also available.
Myler-Cook comes to the PACE Center three times a week to receive assistance with personal care. Prior to enrolling in PACE, she experienced two falls, both in the shower. At PACE, the staff strive to maintain her dignity while helping her with personal hygiene. She also enjoys and benefits from socializing with the participants at the PACE community.
Services take place primarily at the Bluegrass PACE Center in Lexington, where participants receive primary care, therapy, meals, recreation, socialization and personal care. Supplemental services may be provided in the home based on an individual participants’ needs. Transportation is provided by the PACE program to and from the Center, as well as to and from any appointments arranged by the PACE team.
“PACE helped me not waste a day after my disability,” she said. “I believe in life before death, and you can’t stop living. Every day has to be a new adventure. PACE is my adventure. That is my new path in life because you never know what hand you’re going to be dealt, but you have to sit at the poker table and play the best hand you’ve got, and PACE is definitely helping me do that.”
—Maxine Myler-Cook
Turning Grief into Comfort for Others
In 2006, after her own experience with Bluegrass Care Navigators, Shirley Bubany took the incredibly difficult loss of her husband and chose to give back by becoming a volunteer with BCN so that she could help others going through their end-of-life journey and provide comfort and support to families during their time of grief.
“I decided to become a volunteer with BCN because it helped with the grieving process, relating to other people, and knowing that everyone is going through it. It is hard for me to think how my life
would not have been as rewarding if I did not volunteer with BCN. It really got me out of myself.”
Two years later, in 2008, she was approached with the idea of putting her sewing skills to use by making bereavement bears for family members who had recently lost a loved one. These handsewn bears are made with the clothes and fabric from the loved one who has passed away, and help to provide comfort to those grieving.
Having now made over 600 bears, Shirley continues to create these comforting keepsakes for our patients’ families, each one unique and personalized to honor the memory of a loved one. In addition to donating the materials for the bears she makes, Shirley’s dedication to this program and the families it serves is evident in the care and attention she puts into each bear. She takes the time to get to know the loved one through their clothes and hobbies to create a special, lasting memento.
Shirley has heard countless stories of how the bears have brought comfort and solace to families during their time of mourning.
“One of my favorite memories is while being recognized as the National Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteer Award recipient, I was approached by a gentleman who brought the bereavement bear I had made using his wife’s robe. He explained to me that his daughters requested a bear for him because he was unable to sleep since his wife’s passing. He told me that after he received the bereavement bear, he was finally able to sleep again with it by his side.”
—Shirley Bubany
“Making the bears is a way to give back to the families and support them in their grief journey. I could go buy a new purse, but I would rather buy poly-fil for the bears. My own experience caring for my husband and the support I received from BCN motivates me to continue making the bears and give back to others.”
Pikeville Couple Celebrates 55th Anniversary
At Bluegrass Care Navigators, part of the comforting care that we provide every day comes in the form of helping our patients and families honor and preserve these moments, especially during difficult times such as at the end of life.
Recently, we had the opportunity to make this possible for a couple in our Pikeville service area, Eddley and Matilda Newsome. The Newsomes seldom celebrated milestones—but when their 55th wedding anniversary approached, Eddley was in our care.
Our Bluegrass Hospice Care Team knew that this was likely the last anniversary the Newsomes would share so they surprised the couple with cake, ice cream, a card, and decorations for their special day.
“This anniversary was magical because without them none of this would have happened,” Matilda said. “We’d have had an anniversary, but they made it special for us.”
Thanks to your support and the comforting care we provide, Eddley and Matilda were able to truly celebrate and honor the 55 years of love they shared for one another in the comfort of their home—helping both find peace and solace.
“If I had it to do it all over, I would do it again,” Matilda said. “We had rough times and things we had to work through, but we never gave up on each other.”
Eddley passed five days after their anniversary celebration, and Matilda is grateful for the years God gave them.
The generosity we receive from our Caring Community supports our care teams as they work with patients and families to organize surprise parties, arrange intimate family reunions, and help fulfill wishes for patients, ensuring that these special occasions are filled with love, laughter, and a renewed sense of togetherness.
“With hospice work, we want to squeeze out every bit of celebration of life we can,” says Andrea Tackett, Chaplain in the Pikeville Office. “When we’re journeying with someone toward the end of life, every accomplishment is a milestone and everything is worthy of a celebration, but it’s pretty rare to get to celebrate something this significant with a couple.”
—Matilda Newsome
“I know in my heart that he held on because he wanted to spend that anniversary with me. It was so heartfelt and wonderful that we got to spend it together.”
Rebuilding a Life: Triumph over Dementia, Alcoholism, and Homelessness
Recently we cared for a 58-year-old patient, who had been residing at a homeless shelter for a month when the shelter staff noticed he was exhibiting symptoms of dementia, struggling to remember daily tasks and becoming increasingly forgetful. Concerned for his well-being, they referred him to our Bluegrass Transitions Care Dementia program for support.
During his time in the program, the patient was open and receptive to discussing his challenges with the Transitions coach. Together, they implemented interventions such as establishing and maintaining a routine, as well as encouraging him to write things down. These strategies proved to be beneficial, helping him cope with his increasing forgetfulness and anxiety.
However, there were some setbacks along the way. The patient briefly relapsed into excessive alcohol use, leading him to be asked to leave the shelter for a short period. Despite this, the Transitions coach remained dedicated to supporting him and continued our services. Thankfully, the patient was able to bounce back, returning to the shelter and stopping alcohol use again. He began attending AA meetings and even found a sponsor to help him on his journey to sobriety.
During his time in the program, the patient secured employment, which was an important step towards rebuilding his life. Although he initially struggled to follow the required steps for the job, he persevered and found an alternative position breaking down boxes at a facility. To everyone’s delight, he performed this job successfully.
As his progress continued, the prospects of a stable living situation started to become a reality. With the knowledge our team has gained through the Medical Respite program, we were able to continue to support the patient as he searched for permanent housing. Two weeks after being placed on a waitlist, he finally moved into his new apartment, conveniently located next to his workplace. He remained steadfast in his commitment to maintain sobriety, attending church regularly, and taking care of his mental and physical health.
But the positive changes in the patient’s life didn’t stop there. He was able to reconnect with his daughter, and they planned to spend time together in July. The patient couldn’t believe how his life had turned around, and he remarked, “things seem almost too good to be true.”
We were able to provide compassion, guidance, and medical care to help many who have complex challenges thanks to the support of our Caring Community and a grant from the federal Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This patient’s journey serves as an inspiring reminder that with the right support system, anyone can rebuild their life and find hope, no matter how dire their circumstances may seem.
Support from our Caring Community of donors, volunteers and community partners make these and countless more moments of compassion possible. Thank you for helping Bluegrass Care Navigators bring comfort and care to our patients and families. Contact us: Philanthropy Department: give@bgcarenav.org | bgcarenav.org/ways-to-give
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