Hospice of the Red River Valley is a not-for-profit hospice that provides intensive comfort care to enhance quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. Our site shares patient, caregiver and volunteer stories—demonstrating how hospice allows people to live well, and tools and resources about end-of-life and grief.
A Sparkle that Never Left: Husband Reminisces on a Lifetime of Love & How Hospice Helped Honor Final Wishes
Bill and Gwen Hejl’s relationship was kismet. From the moment they met, their lives were suddenly, forever entwined. Their paths connected when Bill was set up on a blind date at the Wayne County Fair in Goldsboro, N.C. As it turned out, his full attention was on his blind date’s friend, Gwen. It was at …
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The Patchwork of Friendship: Lifelong Friends Share Their End-of-Life Journeys with the Help of Hospice
Interconnected and stitched like the perfectly placed patterns of a handmade quilt, the friendship of Lois Wisted, 100, and Charlotte Hoeglund, 99, has stood the test of time. They met by happenstance, but they intentionally kept in touch throughout the past seven decades, sharing many treasured memories. Their lives have taken them throughout the world, …
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A House for Hope
Hospice is compassionate care for those who are no longer receiving curative treatment for their terminal illness and have a life expectancy of six months or less. It includes expert medical care and pain management with specially trained medical and support staff, including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), chaplains …
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Signs of Compassion Fatigue & How to Cope with It
by Staci Metzger, LMSW Caring for a loved one can be fulfilling and one of the best gifts you can offer. Along with the rewards, caregivers face many challenges and stressors, including compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is a special kind of burnout that happens to caregivers as a result of providing care to a person who …
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Hospice CNA Discovers Full-circle Connection with Patient
Angie Judd has cared for hundreds of patients in her four-plus years as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) with Hospice of the Red River Valley. In early February, a chance encounter with a patient revealed an unexpected connection. The experience reaffirmed for Angie why she loves her job. As a “float” CNA, Angie travels wherever …
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Personal Loss Leads to Career in Helping Others with Their Grief
The death of a loved one can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s a life—whether the death is expected or not. The grief that follows is a natural part of life, but navigating grief can be difficult, especially given the daily demands of life. Part of Hospice of the Red River …
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