FIRST, HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO DORIS WHITE FOR BEING FIRST NOMINEE. I SO ADMIRE ALL WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THE LOVING CARE OF OTHERS. IN PARTICULAR I ADMIRE CAREER NURSES AND ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE EVER WORKED WITH HOSPICE. DORIS IS BOTH AN RN AND A HOSPICE NURSE- IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. THOUGH JUDY'S BIO INDICATES HER CAREER WAS NOT IN HEALTHCARE, SHE HAD TO TAKE IT UPON HERSELF TO WORK WITH HOSPICE AND EVENTUALLY BECOME BOARD CHAIRPERSON IN HER NEW HOME TOWN OF ITHACA, NY. THAT TO ME INDICATES A LOT OF VOLUNTEER HOURS SPENT EASING THE PAIN AND SHOCK OF LOSING LOVED ONES.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITTH HOSPICE BEGAN WHEN MY MOM'S DOCTORS SUGGESTED SHE WAS WEEKS FROM DEATH WITH PANCREATIC CANCER. THEY SUGGESTED MOM NEEDED EITHER HOME NURSING CARE, OR HOSPICE CARE. I HAD NO CLUE WHAT HOSPICE WAS UNTIL THEIR REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO OUR HOME AND SPOKE WITH MY BROTHER AND I. THEIR LOVING HOME NURSES AND AIDES KEPT MOM AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE AT HOME. WHEN MOM COULD NO LONGER BEAR THE PAIN VIA MORPHINE PILLS, HOSPICE ADMITTED HER TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IN BOCA RATON, FL. THEY IMMEDIATELY RETURNED MOM TO BEING PAIN-FREE AND RELAXED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX MONTHS. SHE PASSED NATURALLY AND PEACEFULLY WITH A SMILE ON HER BEAUTIFUL FACE. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT EVERY HOSPICE EMPLOYEE AND VOLUNTEER WE MET. MY PARTNER DIANE HYLDAHL MARLEY, MHS '63, HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH HER AUNT.

MY PERSONAL THANKS GO OUT TO DORIS, JUDY, AND ALL HOSPICE EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR EASING THE PAIN OF LOSS FOR ALL OF US LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT HOSPICE DOES.