A PERFECT ENDING Family grateful for final days with loved one
85
-year old Gladys Robinson had been fiercely independent, enjoying life in her small cabin by a lake north of Edmonton. She still shovelled her own walk, brought in firewood for the stove and drove her car into town to get groceries. But as she visited her family in the Lower Mainland over the Christmas season, Gladys suddenly found herself in Royal Columbian Hospital with a stunning diagnosis: terminal lung cancer. In the days that followed, as her loved ones visited and the hospital offered palliative care, one thought kept coming back to Gladys – “this is perfect.” Up until then, she had seemed fine. Daughter Beverley Richards says her mom giggled regularly and was her usual happy self. Grandson Geoff Richards poses with Gladys Robinson at Royal Columbian Hospital. Christmas morning however, as the encourages families to consider open gifts. The night before Gladys family was getting up, grandson advance care planning. passed, her entire family surroundGeoff Richards heard Gladys gasp“These conversations ideally happen ed her, with more than 20 people ing for breath. “She said she had forming what they describe as a been like this since four or five in the in the comfort of one’s own home outside of a health crisis,” explains ‘healing circle’. morning,” he says. Dr. Bradley. “It allows a person and During those final days, Beverley Geoff drove his grandmother from says her mother mentioned many Coquitlam to Royal Columbian Hos- their loved ones to know what is truly important as time times how perfect everything was. pital’s emergency deis running short. This Family were impressed by the care partment, where they We went over and prepares them to work and the thoughtful measures hosconnected Gladys to thanked those who had with the doctors, who pital staff took to accommodate all oxygen and began the been mum’s nurses. know the treatment the visitors during Gladys’s stay. process of figuring out Doctors were very comoptions, and together Gladys passed away January 10th, what was ailing her. passionate and very choose a treatment just over two weeks after stepTests revealed a lump kind. It was an amazing plan to honour the per- ping through the ER doors. Family on her lungs, and journey. son’s values, priorities members say the support and unspots were discovered and beliefs.” derstanding they received allowed on her liver. A biopsy -Beverley Richards As it became clear Gladys to pass with dignity and on confirmed the bad that Gladys didn’t her terms. news. have much longer to live, family “We went over and thanked those Rather than attempt aggressive who had been mum’s nurses,” says treatments, Gladys decided on palli- and visitors regularly arrived to see Beverley. “Doctors were very comative care, and her family supported her in hospital. On New Year’s Day, passionate and very kind. It was an her. Dr. Joelle Bradley, who oversaw close friends brought in an amazing feast and everyone gathered to amazing journey.” Gladys’s care at Royal Columbian,
“
”
ROYAL COLUMBIAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION I YOUR HEALTH MATTERS
5
