Category: Patient & Family Stories

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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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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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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Arlyn Mogck was the planner. A licensed public accountant with a mind for detail, it was ingrained in his personality. In fact, he had mapped out his life in three equal segments, with a purpose to each: The first 30 years was for starting a career and family. The next 30 was for setting him …

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Albert Shirek remembers everything in life from age five on. As a life-long farmer, many of his memories stem from 33,000 hours on a tractor, combing the fields. He and his wife, Stephany, spent their lives on a farmstead, from birth through retirement. They understood firsthand the lesson imparted by famed businessman and philanthropist Howard …

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Paul Fellbaum spent his childhood years on the family’s New Effington, S.D., farm, surrounded by nature—a landscape in which he found much inspiration. At age eight, Paul’s Aunt Sharon gave him a camera for Christmas, setting in motion his lifelong passion for photography. “That summer, my baby brother was born, and I took all of …

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Special thanks to Judy Peterson for contributing her and her husband Lynn’s experience with Hospice of the Red River Valley. This post was published with permission from Judy. In Webster’s dictionary, the definition under ‘hospice’ states that it stands for hospitality, a place of refuge for a traveler. Now, I do not know the Hospice …

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A great teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart. Laurie Meyer-Olson is a teacher. Her mannerisms, eye contact and authoritative yet comforting voice commands attention in the way one would expect from someone who has spent a lifetime instructing others. It’s a voice whose carefully measured responses shaped the futures of …

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Richard “Dick” Beckett was miserable and just wanted to be done taking so many pills. Heart disease and the side effects of his medication had eroded his quality of life. Chronic pain and fluid build-up made him so uncomfortable that his family feared he was at the end of his life. He planned to stop …

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Dear friends, My mother received hospice care, and when I reflect on what they did for our family, I am inspired to share our story. My beautiful mom, Corky, had dementia and other medical complications. Since my father’s passing eight years ago, my brother and I had the privilege of caring for her. Mom’s health took …

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