Dear Friend,

I would like to share my hospice story with you to demonstrate how a gift to Hospice of the Red River Valley helps ensure families, like mine, will have the care they need during a critical time in their lives.

My son, John was a typical eight-year old boy. He was mischievous, loved to tell jokes, and adored roller coasters. I will never forget the summer evening in 2003 when all that changed. John and I were having a great time, we were tickling and laughing. When I went to give him a hug, he said, "Ouch," and that’s when I discovered it - the lump. There was another on his leg. I called the clinic the next morning.

That very same day, John was admitted to the pediatric ICU where he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in the skeletal muscles. This was the beginning of our two-year journey with John’s cancer.

After several rounds of treatment, John went into a remission which was ultimately short-lived. By September, 2005, he began having trouble breathing. The doctor asked him, "Do you want to be done?" John sat there for a moment and then declared, "I’m done. I want to go home."

We invited Hospice of the Red River Valley to be a part of John’s end-of-life journey. Hospice helped us know just what to expect, they educated us and provided us with reading materials that guided us through some of the most difficult moments.

John made the most of every day. His motto was "I’m going to live until I die," and he did. His courage amazed me. Hospice recommended he make one last trip to school to be with his classmates, tell them what was happening and say good bye. John made that emotional trip to school and although it was heart wrenching, it was also a huge weight off his shoulders.

In reflecting back on this difficult time, my husband summed it up best, "You want an organization that is professional and capable in taking care of this time. Hospice can help." Hospice was there for us. They provided the care and guidance we needed to get through the devastation of losing our child. In the days, weeks and months following John’s death, Hospice would call us to see how we were doing and to check to make sure we were okay.

The truth is all of us want to live well until we die...but that journey is different for each of us. With your help, Hospice can personalize care and support for each individual and family, and can provide compassionate end-of-life care to people, regardless of age, regardless of circumstance. Will you please give a gift today?

- Denise Murphy
Hillsboro, ND