I really didn’t know much about Hospice, until Jan. 15, 2012.
That was the day my daughter Jennie died, the very worst day of my life. It took me several months to walk through the doors at Cowichan Valley Hospice. You see, I thought I could work through my grief on my own.
It took two friends, a mother and daughter, who had lost their husband and father and had gone to Hospice to find help, to finally convince me I should at least go and talk to someone.
When I walked through those doors it was like being wrapped up in a warm blanket of love, compassion and empathy.
Losing a child is the worst possible thing that could ever happen. The warm caring people at Hospice helped me to understand that I wasn’t going crazy and that grief is an individual experience that we all deal with differently.
They set me up with someone I could talk with and I also had therapeutic touch treatments.
After my daughter died I also took on the responsibility of raising my granddaughter and I received so much care and understanding from everyone in the office.
It’s been three and a half years since Jennie died and there isn’t a day that I don’t think of her. My friends at Hospice are still there offering warm hugs and kind encouraging words. Last spring I took the Hospice training and I am now a volunteer, giving back by caring for others who are in need of someone to listen to them and to offer kind words and warm loving hugs.
United Way Cowichan funds over 20 local programs that help Cowichan residents, just like Judi.
To ensure the funding of these programs, that so greatly help many people in our community, please consider a donation to the United Way Cowichan campaign. This is your community, this is your campaign.
Please call our office, 250-748-1312 or visit our website to donate online (www.cowichanunitedway.com).