Literature Review

Bride holds emotional dress reveal at hospital for her nana — fearing she wouldn’t be there on the big day Scoop; by Baisakhi Mishra; 1/4/25 Realizing her grandmother would miss her wedding, a bride-to-be makes her way to the hospital with a surprise that will warm your soul. Grandparents eagerly wait to see their grandchildren walk down the aisle. Perhaps, for them, it's like reliving a moment they've dreamed of since they first held their grandchildren in their arms. Through every milestone and memory, the grandparents patiently watch their grandchildren grow and dream about witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Similarly, months before her wedding, Gianna Huber (@gianna on TikTok) wanted to make her ailing grandmother, Jo Ann, feel truly special. Fearing her grandma might not make it to her big day, Huber planned a heartfelt surprise—a special wedding dress reveal just for Jo Ann.

[United Kingdom]  'My son died at 24 - now I'm doing his bucket list' BBC News; by Adam Eley and Alison Holt; 12/16/24 Alex Spencer's son Declan - who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy - died last year at the age of 24, and she admits she has still not gone a day without crying. "I think society has a misconception that a carer gets their life back [when a loved one dies]," she said. Declan had drawn up a bucket list but died before he could finish it. Now Alex, who wants to raise awareness of the difficulties disabled people face in getting the right care, is taking up the challenge - including visiting Paris, getting a tattoo Declan designed and taking his adapted van around a famous German race track.

Springside Knitting Club helps Friends of Hospice Oswego County News Now, Oswego, NY; 12/18/24 The Springside at Seneca Hill Knitting Club recently donated a bin of handmade Afghans to Friends of Hospice in Oswego County (FOHOC), said Elena Twiss, FOHOC executive director. “The Afghans they made will give warmth and comfort to individuals at the end of life in Oswego County and we are very grateful for their support.” FOHOC is a volunteer organization that provides financial and non-medical support to individuals, caregivers, friends and families during the end-of-life journey and supports them following their loss.

[Wales] Man fulfils dying wish accompanying daughter down aisle BBC Wales News, Wales, United Kingdom; by Jenny Rees; 12/10/24 A terminally ill man was able to fulfil his dying wish to accompany his daughter down the aisle just six days before he died. Wayne Wharton, a 61-year-old father-of-six had terminal cancer but was taken from hospital in Carmarthen to the wedding, 30 miles (48km) away in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. He was accompanied by volunteer paramedics, who stayed by his side the whole day, even sitting to eat with guests, before returning Mr. Wharton to hospital. ... "The paramedic pushed dad down the aisle and I held his hand," said bride Jess Lewis, who married her partner Matthew ... "Obviously people cry at weddings because of the emotion, but every single member of the family was there and for a lot of them it was their last time to see him. It was a wedding but also a goodbye."

Healing hearts: How palliative care staff reunited a father with his daughters after nearly 40 years apart The Daily Scan - Cancer; by Sondi Bruner; 11/25/24 Leah Duval and Tanya Ellis don’t have many childhood memories of their father. They recall fragments, like his bright smile and building snowmen in the backyard. And then one day, when they were three and five years old, Glenn Ellis disappeared completely. ​As the girls grew up, they learned their father had schizophrenia, which they guessed played a large role in his disappearance. ... The family searched for years in the 1980s and never found him. The sisters had no choice but to move forward with their lives, though they never gave up hope that their father was still out there. ... Then, on May 14th 2024, nearly 40 years after their father vanished from their hometown in Ontario, Tanya received an unexpected phone call from across the country. It was from Siobhan Gallagher, a social worker at May’s Place Hospice in Vancouver, BC. She had a patient named Glenn Ellis, and he was looking for his daughters. [Click on the title's link to read this story.] ... “People can hold onto grudges for their entire life and they don’t allow healing to happen,” says Tanya. “Have an open heart and an open mind. Just let things go, because we’re just all humans trying to do the best we can in this world.”

Mom of 4 is placed in hospice care 2 weeks before son's wedding. On his big day, she's on the dance floor with a smile (exclusive) People; by Jordan Greene; 11/14/24 ... In October, before entering hospice care, Liv recalls how her mom was in the hospital, and all she could talk about was attending the wedding. With Olivia's health deteriorating, Liv says her brother Salvatore and his fiancée Kelsey had even considered holding the wedding ceremony in the hospital room if necessary. But that contingency plan quickly became unnecessary. On Nov. 2, their mom defied expectations and arrived at Basilica Hudson in Hudson, New York, alongside the other 105 guests to watch her son walk down the aisle — turning the hopes of her kids and everyone else in attendance into a reality. In fact, Liv says her mom exceeded even the best-case scenario the family had imagined. ...

Creating death box eases stress, brings 'peace of mind' to those left behind BradfordToday.ca, Canada; by Andrew Philips; 10/26/24 Creating a death box might sound like sort of a morbid thing to do, but it’s vitally important. That’s according to Tammy Vaters, supportive care coordinator at Hospice Huronia-Tomkins House, ... who leads upcoming workshops on creating a death box or a “legacy box or final wishes box” for those uncomfortable with the more succinct terminology ["death box"]. ... Besides end-of-life wishes, Vaters says the box can include photos that someone would like displayed at a celebration of life or similar offering along with personalized letters to family and friends and personal mementos that have special meaning. “It gives you more opportunities of expressing how you feel about somebody,” she says, noting the boxes should also contain usernames and passwords that may aid one's loved ones after death. “They can be more thoughtful and personal.” Vaters, who is a specialist in thanatology (the study of death, dying and bereavement), says people will often use another term for death. 

Terminally ill Illinois woman meets her idol, Jelly Roll NBC WETM 18, Elmira, IL; by Taylor Harris; 10/27/24 An Illinois woman battling terminal cancer fulfilled the dream of a lifetime Wednesday — meeting country music sensation Jelly Roll. Keita Miller, of Granite City, was diagnosed with a terminal illness in February 2022 and given just months to live. She has defined the odds, and now she’s been able to meet her musical hero, country star Jelly Roll. Her favorite Jelly Roll song is “Son Of A Sinner,” and she says his music has been a source of comfort during her illness. But more than just meeting the artist, Miller had one special request. ... The James Bess Foundation, a nonprofit that grants dreams to adults from 21 to 65 years old who are battling terminal illness, is making this dream come true.

A special dedication for a Make-A-Wish room KOB-4, Albuquerque, NM; by KOB; 10/18/24 There’s nothing like making a child’s wish come true. For children fighting a critical illness, those wishes are a gift of hope that can help give them the strength to continue their fight. Through tears and hugs, the Make-A-Wish room where wishes are planned and granted was dedicated to the memory of a Wish Kid.  ... “After two days in the hospital, we were able to bring our precious boy home. ...” It’s a situation no family prepares for after bringing their newborn home. ... Seth was placed on hospice and his family focused on letting him live out his best life. That’s when make a wish became part of his story. “They were pure magic from the moment we met them, after sitting down to meet and learn about Seth, we discussed possible wish ideas.” That meeting was done in the Wish Room. ... “Our Wish Room is where Wish Kids come in to do their discovery visits, to talk about their wish to plan. And so it’s a really fun space just for kids to come in, forget about their diagnosis for a while and dream big,” said Sara Lister, president & CEO of Make-A-Wish New Mexico.

‘It’s more like hope’: New hospice patient’s Halloween wish come true WTOC 11, Pooler, GA; by Jasmine Butler; 10/14/24 Tons of candy, a bunch of costumes and hundreds of people. That is what a neighborhood in Pooler looked like as people gathered for a Layla Alacan, who recently entered Hospice Care. “She is so sweet when she wants to be and she’ll cuddle up and give kisses, she’s the definition of a sour patch kid. She’s super sour and then super sweet after,” said Layla’s mother, Courtney Alacan. She has a big personality, but she’s fighting a big battle. Layla has a rare terminal disorder called 4H Leukodystrophy. ... It’s an experience her parents Courtney and Nick Alacan know all too well. “Our first child Jamie also had the condition. And she unfortunately passed in April of 2023,” said Alacan. So, they’re vowing to make her wildest dreams come true. ... “[We]  asked her what her favorite holiday was and she said Halloween," said Alacan. “Thinking we would have 40 or 50 kids come through and just you know, have a nice little night. Then, it blew up and now we’re here and we couldn’t be more grateful," said Alacan. An entire community, celebrating Halloween a little early but also rooting on the six-year-old with enough spunk, for them all. 

JJ’s star spangled salute: A veteran’s dying wish comes true KFDI 101.3, Wichita, KS; by JJ Hayes; 10/7/24 We salute Vietnam Veteran Buck Jones. Described as compassionate and a lover of classic cars, Buck was recently moved to hospice.  The man who loved to go to all the car shows stopped due to his failing health. So, the community rallied for the man who served on the minesweeper, the USS Pluck. Instead of finding a way to take Buck to the car show, they brought the car show to him. Dozens of people in the community, one by one, pulled into the parking lot of Buck’s care facility in Oklahoma in classic cars of all shapes and sizes.  He was in disbelief that anyone would do that for him. May you always dream of classic cars, Buck, and THANK YOU for your service. Editor's note: This article identifies the hospice as "Buck's care facility in Oklahoma," with no other specific agency name. 

Family matriarch crosses ocean swim off bucket list Star News Group, Manasquan, NJ; by Alex Dyer; 10/3/24 Dorothy Jean “Dot” Temple ventured into the rough surf, her arms supported by loved ones, her feet tickled by sea foam and soft sand. Wading in the ocean is an ordinary pleasure. But on this day, it was special for Temple and for everyone who came to watch her enjoy the water. At age 93, it’s no longer an easy task for Temple to indulge in her love of ocean swimming, an activity in which she had excelled for a majority of her life. ... Dot was recently admitted to the hospital, where the family was not “sure if she would survive the night.” Afterwards, she was put on hospice, where she was advised to cease her medication. “We were heartbroken at the prospect of possibly losing her, but in typical Nanny fashion…she is holding her own and is still doing great — all things considered,” said Gasetel. “A strong-headed woman, she has been very vocal that before she passes, she absolutely must go swimming in the ocean one more time; so that’s exactly what we did.”

Swimming with dolphins or a gondola ride in Italy: Hospice VR program offers respite to dying patients The Hamilton Spectator; by Celeste Percy-Beauregar; 9/19/24Paramedic Andrew Wood asks a patient receiving end-of-life care at Hankinson House hospice in Brantford: “What would you like to do?” Whether it’s a concert, kayaking or skydiving that they have in mind, he can make it happen right then and there, with virtual-reality (VR) headsets. Since many of the patients have limited energy and are confined to their beds, VR offers a brief escape, an opportunity to try something new or return somewhere special, like a childhood home — one of Wood’s favourite experiences to facilitate using Google Street View.