Reenie Schwallie

Schwallie Answered Calling LEFT HOSPITAL FOR HOSPICE

CONTRIBUTOR: Maria Kirkpatrick

“It’s a tough time,” she said of the stage in life when people make final plans. “It’s a

End-of-life care is every bit as crucial point in life. So many people are ready important as the beginning of life, to embrace comfort care at home rather than and Reenie Schwallie wants to make pursue more aggressive treatment. By the sure her patients feel cared for and time they get to me, they are so grateful to comfortable with the decisions they hear about the care hospice provides.” make. “People have so many ideas of what

Schwallie is the admissions nurse at hospice is,” Schwallie said. “It truly is all

Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care in about comfort care and all about the quality of

Corvallis, and has been taking care of others life, not the quantity. We don’t make choices since 1978. for (patients);

A graduate of Loyola University “Nursing is a we support and educate them in Chicago, to make choices

Schwallie moved to Corvallis about wonderful career,” for themselves.” The day-to40 years ago day diversity of when her husband took a job with she said. “I went into it the job is what Schwallie likes

Hewlett-Packard. the most. She

The couple raised four children and have four because I liked science said everyone is different, and she gets to grandchildren. “Nursing is a wonderful career,” and helping people.” meet all sorts of people from all walks of life. she said. “I went “No day is like into it because I liked science and helping the other,” she said. people.” The biggest challenge she has faced in the

She has worked at Lumina Hospice, profession is happening now. In this time of formerly named Benton Hospice Service, COVID-19, Schwallie said it is very difficult since 2003. The name was changed because to wear double masks and face shields and it serves five different counties. still connect with people. It’s been a huge

“It was a long journey to get here,” challenge to communicate with all these

Schwallie said. “I had worked in a hospital, barriers. but always wanted to work with patients and Through it all, Schwallie said it is their families in a home setting. I help people important to pay attention to self-care. She deal with the end of life. Like birth, death is said she is lucky to have a wonderful team of important to family life.” coworkers who support each other through

As a hospital nurse, she saw people die the tough cases and these frustrating times. alone, without their pets, family and comfort Away from work, Schwallie is an outdoors of home. Hospice care, she said, was her person. She skis and climbs mountains as calling. an outlet and to maintain balance in her life.

She began working in hospice part time “I feel very blessed to be a part of Lumina while raising her children. Eventually, she and make a positive difference in people’s became a case manager and then a manager. lives,” she said. “The isolation people are

Now she is the admitting nurse and the first suffering at this time is as awful as the point of contact for patients. pandemic.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Kelly Lyons