Literature Review

PositivelyJAX Award - The purple bench of compassionate St. AugustineNews4JAX; by Melanie Lawson; 11/1/24 [Posted as a Headline as we move through this important Election Week.] This month’s PositivelyJAX Award goes to something unique: a bench. But it’s no ordinary bench—it’s The Purple Bench, powered by people and conversation. The concept was brought to life by a group called Compassionate St. Augustine, sparking empathy and understanding in anyone willing to sit down and listen. This purple bench, located just outside the gates of the Lincolnville Community Garden in St. Augustine, often sits empty, waiting for someone to take a seat and begin a conversation.  When I approached, Eileen Reid was happy to join me. In just a short 10-minute conversation, I got to know her—a retired hospice nurse ... “I’ve been around a lot of endings, and endings are beginnings, but now, now I’m beginning a whole different phase of my life, and it’s interesting. ...”Editor's note: Click on the title's link for the community news article. Click here for a photo and description of this Purple Bench Initiative: "The Purple Bench initiative was formed to challenge the community to engage in compassionate practices despite different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and views. In a world divided by polarizing opinions, it is increasingly important to find common ground to help those in need." May we find creative ways to use these principles in our own settings and relationships.

Boy, 7, takes on 145-mile challenge for hospice BBC News, Peterborough, United Kingdom; by Shariqua Ahmed; 6/15/24 A seven-year-old boy has taken on a mythical-themed challenge to raise funds for a hospice. Isaac Yates from King's Cliffe in Northamptonshire is scooting, walking and cycling 145 miles (233km) through a Lord of the Rings Virtual Conqueror Challenge for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough [United Kingdom]. His mum, Zoë Hopkinson, works as a physiotherapist at the hospice which inspired Isaac's mission as he wants to “help people who are suffering and dying.” 

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!It came without packages, boxes or bags!"And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."Maybe Christmas ... perhaps ... means a little bit more!"~ The Grinch, in Dr. Suess's How the Grinch Stole Christmas

'I've already had my miracle': 26-year-old Savannah mom enters hospice care with only weeks to live ABC WJCL 22 News, Savannah, GA; by Savannah Younger; 12/4/24 As the holiday season begins, Sara Long, a 26-year-old Savannah woman, is entering hospice care after a prolonged battle with kidney failure. Now the wife and mother is preparing to say her final goodbyes to family and friends. "I wanted to make sure that everything's kind of ready to go for when family visits and all that kind of stuff," Long said. "So, I just want to make things as easy as possible for everybody." Long has been told she has two to three weeks left to live and is now preparing her family for her passing. ... Their daughter, Riley, 4, is too young to understand what is happening, but Long is creating a hope chest so Riley can always remember her. "There are probably dozens, if not hundreds, of letters at this point, to open at different various points in her life. So, like her first day of school all through, or a graduate degree, potentially," Long said. "I feel like I've already had my miracle," Sara said. "I feel like Riley is my miracle. ..."Editor's note: If you spend time on nothing else in today's newsletter, click here to view this memorable, meaningful video/article. Surely, you will see your own life in a new light.  See our "Today's Encouragement" for today, with a beautiful quote from Sara Long.

Nonprofit organizes free home cleanings for cancer patients The Dallas Express, Dallas, TX; by Patti Villegas; 10/27/24 When facing a serious illness, even simple tasks can become overwhelming. However, one nonprofit organization is stepping in to help alleviate some of that burden for individuals with cancer. Cleaning for a Reason, founded in 2006, has facilitated free home cleaning services for more than 57,133 cancer patients in the U.S. and Canada, providing services valued at a total of more than $19 million. The non-profit organization partners with residential cleaning companies and community volunteers to “clean the homes of cancer patients to provide hope, relief, control, and cleanliness,” the group’s website states. The volunteers’ work not only enhances the patients’ physical environment but uplifts their spirits as well.

SPECIAL EDITION: December 24, 2024

From It's a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra

Community carolers share love with Bartlesville's 'Santa' on his final journey home Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters - Bartlesville, Oklahoma; by Nathan Thompson; 11/9/24 He's been known as Bartlesville's very own Santa for more than three decades, and on Saturday night dozens of community members showered Ron Adams with the blessing of love and Christmas carols as he faces the final moments of his life.  Earlier this year, Adams was diagnosed with stage-four liver cancer. His health has rapidly deteriated and he is in hospice care at The Journey Home between Bartlesville and Dewey. Debbie Neece, a friend of the family, says she received a phone call from Adams' daughter, Lindsey, Saturday morning with a special request.  Neece made it happen as a fitting tribute to a Bartlesvile icon and his family. ... Saturday's love from the community gathering and singing more than 20 minutes of Christmas carols had a profound impact on Ron, his wife Debi and his daughter Lindsey. Lindsey came outside and in tears, thanked the gathered crowd. A small blessing of Christmas music. A large outpouring of love from the community. But not as large as Ron Adams' heart and his devotion to bringing joy as Bartlesville's Santa.

I asked my dad to write my wedding speech after he was given 6 months to live. I'm holding on to it for my special day. AOL.com - Insider; by Lara Rodwell; 9/29/24 ... I remember the moment my dad told me he had six months to live like it was yesterday. ... "Lar, we need to have a chat," he said, hovering beside the edge of the bed. "I've received some news. It's not good." ... Wrapped in the comforting arms of my dad, I blurted, "Dad, you're not going to walk me down the aisle one day." ... During one sleepless night, it hit me. I wanted to create a keepsake where my dad and I could write letters, share memories and process our feelings, together. I found a tatty old notebook and wrote my first letter to him. ... The very first thing I asked him at the end of the letter, ink smudged with tears, was if he could write his wedding speech for me. ... It was a hot summer's morning, the day my dad died in the care of our local hospice. He'd been there for three weeks — in a lot of pain, stabilized by a lot of morphine — surrounded by his family. .... Later that day, ... amongst pages of financial practicalities and funeral wishes, there was a folder of white envelopes addressed to each of us - his wife and four children. On the front of mine read "Lar...". On the back: "Your wedding speech." To this day, the envelope remains sealed, tucked away at the bottom of my "dad box" — along with the notebook we shared, photo albums of memories, and a collection of swimming medals he wanted me to show his grandkids one day. ...

Fall River sees slight uptick in tuberculosis cases. How the city's TB clinic handles it. The Herald News, Fall River, MA; by Emily Scherny; 12/19/24 Tuberculosis is rare in Fall River, though rates of the disease are higher here than the country's average — and it was classified by the World Health Organization as the world's deadliest disease in 2023. Fall River has a TB clinic with a constant presence year-round, serving adult and pediatric patients alike. ... According to the Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Infectious Diseases report that tracks TB cases in the state’s top 25 largest cities, Fall River had approximately 8.5 cases out of every 100,000 residents in 2023; a major uptick after the year before, when none were counted. That compares to the United States average of 2.5 cases per 100,000 that same year. ... TB is very communicable in winter months, Kosior said, which is partly the reason for the 105 CMR state mandate, which dictates stringent measures of managing TB outside of hospitals in outpatient settings.

Congress extends hospice telehealth flexibilities Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/21/24 Congress has extended the pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities through March 14, 2025. Early Saturday, legislators approved a continuing resolution to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. The bill contained language to extend the flexibilities, which includes the ability to perform face-to-face recertifications via telehealth. They were originally slated to expire on Dec. 31. The extension is a win for health care providers, including hospices, who have come to rely heavily on virtual services during the past five years.   

Editorial: Exposing Marin high school students to health care fields is a home run The Tribune, Novato, CA; by The Marin Independent Journal; 12/18/24 Marin high school students interested in health care will soon get the opportunity to get a head start on those career opportunities. A pilot course is being offered this spring for San Marin High School students to introduce them to various careers in this important field. It is a coordinated initiative led by the Marin County Office of Education, the Novato Unified School District and By the Bay Health, the Marin-headquartered hospice program. John Carroll, Marin County superintendent of schools, says the program is designed to introduce juniors and seniors to the diversity of options in the health care field. ... Giving youth in-depth exposure to the field should pay dividends by increasing students' interest in pursuing those careers. "We are optimistic this partnership with MCOE will inspire more students to join the continuum of care - particularly in areas like home-based palliative care, hospice care and home health care," says Skelly Wingard, chief executive officer at By the Bay Health.