NewsLine - October 2010 - (Page 27)

2010 Fall Quarterly Report NHF Celebrates Our Loyal Friends in Columbus On June 29, 2010, NHF supporters from Ohio joined NHF board and staff members for a reception held at The Columbus Foundation. It had been more than 10 years since NHF had convened a board meeting in Columbus. It was our pleasure to return. The reception was graciously hosted by Sara Jo Kobacker, Stuart Lazarus, Ann Pizzuti, and Libby Ross. We are deeply grateful for their help and support. We are also grateful to the staff of The Columbus Foundation for their gracious hospitality. In particular, we want to recognize Event Coordinator Sue Hazelton. She went out of her way to make our experience special. Read below for why. One of the best parts of the reception was the opportunity for conversation among guests, board members, and staff. Although everyone’s specific interests were different, the shared passion for hospice was unifying. The weather was perfect for an outdoor catch-up between Ann Pizzuti (former NHF board chair and event host), J. Donald Schumacher, (president & CEO of NHF and NHPCO), and Gretchen Brown (chair of NHPCO’s board of directors) NHF Board Chair Brickson Diamond (right) made a point of talking to every guest before inviting the whole group inside to hear his remarks and watch a video presentation. It’s not often that a board member gets to bring her mother to an event! Jeannee Parker Martin, who has served on the NHF board for several years, invited her mother, Ann Parker, to join her. Here, Mrs. Martin speaks with Don Schumacher. Samira Beckwith (NHF and NHPCO board member), Stuart Lazarus (Run to Remember national director and event host), and Sarah Meltzer (NHF staff) chat with a guest. You never know where you are going to find a friend of hospice. My Personal Connection to Hospice by Sue Hazelton The NHF Board came to The Columbus Foundation where I work as an event coordinator. It was my honor to do everything I could to “pay a little forward” and take good care of them. The day of their reception was one of those perfect early summer days. I like to think my sister Cathy had something to do with that! In 1995, Cathy, who was 31 years old and a single mom to three little boys, was diagnosed with a rare cancer. When Cathy was ready for hospice, in 1998, things quickly changed for the best. A knock on the door brought a hospital bed, toilet help, and a wheelchair. Another knock and in came a charge nurse, a counselor for the boys, and even someone to help with shopping and household chores. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Better pain management brought her spirits up; she was more talkative, like her old self, and could visit more with everyone for a couple of weeks. The day Cathy died, I woke up early and she wasn’t responding to me. I called the hospice nurse. She came right over and told me to call everyone. She gently told me Cathy probably wouldn’t make it through the day. I was honored along with my brother to hold each of Cathy’s frail hands as she passed, whispering our goodbyes and I love you. My sister died at 11:45 am on May 14, 1998. Seventeen days before her 34th birthday. Sue’s sister Cathy and her family were grand marshals in a Disney parade. I truly love my career at The Columbus Foundation. I love taking good care of guests and when I think about it, my two best teachers were hospice and Disney. When asked, I was happy to write a story for the NHF website about how both Disney and hospice both took extraordinary care of Cathy. (You can read Sue’s story at www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/ Hazelton). n http://www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=507 http://www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=507 http://www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=507

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NewsLine - October 2010

Getting Paid for Hospice Physician Services
A Message from Don
Taking Your Expertise into the Business Community
National Hospice/PC Month Materials from Marketplace
Update Your Internet Browser
New Pediatric PC Training—and Video Excerpt
People and Places
NHPCO’s Upcoming Educational Offerings
NHF Quarterly Report

NewsLine - October 2010