I recently attended the Midwest Care Alliance Conference in Columbus. The Midwest Care Alliance (MCA), a non-profit organization, promotes home health and hospice care and supports the growth and development of provider programs through education and advocacy. As always when you are surrounded by fellow professionals in hospice care, these meetings usually prompt reflection gained by the networking and education provided. During my day there, I had the opportunity to attend a presentation on creating a culture of hospitality and servant leadership.

Our Caring Culture at State of the Heart Hospice….As I listened to others and after leaving the conference, I started to think about our culture here at State of the Heart Hospice and what it means to all of us who work for our nonprofit agency. What does our commitment to hospice mean to each and every one of us? Often I am asked about my choice to work as a professional at a hospice. The comment I often get back is “Oh how do you work at hospice? How sad that must be.” That is quite the contrary

Accepting the Transitions in LifeThose of us who are in hospice care are aware of life and its transitions, realizing that death is inevitable. The care and support we can provide comes at one of life’s most challenging times. I believe there is great appreciation from our staff on the value of life and the help that is needed when death approaches. Each day our staff is with someone who is leaving this life. Sure there are days that are harder than others. Staff members become attached to our patients and families. One family member recently commented, “Hospice caregivers came into our homes as strangers but left as friends and family.” These words help staff realize how much their care is valued, and it is a rewarding joy in difficult times when taking care of patients and their families. As I encounter our staff I think of the many things they do to help both patient and family.

• I think of the Nurse who finally gets her patient’s pain under control and he tells her he has not had this little amount of pain in a year.

• I think of the Social Worker who helps a patient get his dream fulfilled from our “Corynna’s Wish” program. Her efforts enabled the patient and his fiancé watch the sun go down and rise in the morning, a first for the two of them as a couple.

• I think of the Music Therapist who is able to help the patient with terminal restlessness making them more comfortable by playing his favorite hymns.

• I think of the Health Aide who provides personal care for her patient who has not had such personal care for awhile. These visits are personal with meaningful conversations and sharing.

• I think of our Chaplain who prays with the family and the patient, and, in some instances reconnects a patient with their spiritual caregivers.

• I think of our Bereavement Specialists who are there when the patient is no longer a part of the family, nurturing and listening, providing emotional support and encouragement.

• I think of our Volunteers who sit with patients, giving caregivers a break, and help us in so many ways.

These are some of the joyful things that we can bring to our patients. Sad? No, quite the contrary. I am privileged to hear these stories on a daily basis as I talk to co-workers, families and staff and at facilities we partner with.. The words I hear from them are how they have helped a family and a patient, of how they have made a difficult part of life’s journey better.

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Local Hair Salon Raises FundsFor Hospice’s Corynna’s Wish FundBy: Larry Kinneer, Promotional Writer

Absolute Hair, 639 Wagner Rd. in Greenville, recently held a raffle with proceeds going to Corynna’s Wish, a wish grant-ing program established by State of the Heart Hospice in memory of Corynna Strawser who died a year ago under the care of the local nonprofit agency. The raffle raised $600 for the special wish program. Corynna, 16, suffered from Mito-chondrial Disease, a rare disease that has no cure and is fatal.

“This is a perfect example of how Corynna’s pay it for-ward philosophy works,” said Mindy Stebbins, Director of Business Development for State of the Heart, adding that this is the first fund raiser done by an independent group. State of the Heart last month did a Glow Ball Golf Tournament with proceeds going to the wish program. “We truly appreci-ate the efforts of all the staff at Absolute Hair and are grate-ful for their gift to us.”

Jenny Messler, co-owner of Absolute Hair, stated, “Al-though I never personally met Corynna, her story touched my heart. Corynna was such a unique beautiful young lady with a terminal illness at a very young age. We wanted to do something special in honor of her, so all of us at Absolute hair decided to do the fund raiser. “They raffled off a Chi flat iron and blow dryer bag with a carry-on bag. Kristi Strawser, Corynna’s mother pulled the winning ticket on Friday, November 28.

Carolyn Beck, a co-owner with Messler, said she was personally touched by Corynna’s story as she has a niece that has a rare disease that is difficult to treat. “I felt a connection with Corynna realizing there was someone in my family fac-ing a terrible disease,” she said.

Corynna believed strongly in “paying it forward” and in helping others benefit from her efforts to draw attention to the disease which claimed her life. Her story and the outpouring of love and support for her prompted State of the Heart to create “Corynna’s Wish.” State of the Heart Hospice patients can apply for funding to fulfill a wish they cannot afford financially, or can’t physically do. Thus far, one wish has been granted. An Indiana patient and his fiancé took a trip to Florida allowing the couple to enjoy the sunset and sunrise on the beach one last time.

Messler added, “We want to see other terminally ill patients’ wishes come true, so we did the raffle with the proceeds going to ‘Corynna’s Wish’.”

State of the Heart Hospice, with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, cares for patients in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness. For more information about the services provided by the agency, or to learn more about Corynna’s Wish, visit the web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

First Wish Fulfilled for Hospice Patient By State of the Heart Wish ProgramBy: Larry Kinneer, Promotional Writer

Recently, a State of the Heart Hospice patient and his fiancé were able to fulfill a wish they had, thanks to “Corynna’s Wish,” a wish granting program created by State of the Heart Hospice, and the Dream Foundation in California.

“We got to see the sun set on the ocean and we got to see the sun rise as well,” stated Linda Allen, the fiancé of State of the Heart Hospice patient Larry Kelly. The Dunkirk, Indiana residents traveled to Clearwater, Florida where they experienced a final wish that Larry had. His fiancé had never seen the ocean. “I wanted for her to see the sunrise and sunset

A CULTURE OF EMPATHYBy: MINDY STEBBINS, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

CONTINUTED >

provide: “Those of us caring for patients needing financial help don’t view them as people without insurance or private funds. We focus on providing the very best care that we can in the time they have remaining. Whether they have insurance or not does not enter the picture when it comes to caring for the patient.”These words inspire me in my role as the agency’s chief fund raiser. I hope these examples I have given, and the need we have for patient care support, will touch your hearts as we embrace the season of giving and you will be generous in your support. On behalf of all of us at State of the Heart, our board of trustees, our administrative staff, our clinical staff and our volunteers, thank you for being a loyal friend and supporter of State of the Heart Hospice.

With warm wishes for a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year,

Ryan Gathard, Fund Development Director

As the End of the Year Approaches...

As Christmas approaches, the spirit of giving and sharing fills our hearts as we share our blessings with friends and family. And, with 2014 coming to an end we inevitably look to the future, reflecting how we can make our lives better and find ways to help our fellow human beings. The message I am sharing with you in this edition of our newsletter, is the importance of supporting charitable causes such as State of the Heart. Now, more than ever, we need your financial support as we enter our 34th year of providing quality hospice care to communities in our service area. Last year, we provided nearly $170,000 in indigent care and charity costs. As a nonprofit agency, State of the Heart is committed to providing quality hospice care to all who need our services, regardless of ability to pay. In some instances, patients had no insurance and State of the Heart assumed all of the costs of their care; in other instances, insurance did not cover all the care for the patient and again, State of the Heart paid for those extra needs. I want to share two examples of how State of the Heart helped patients as they confronted financial burdens last year.A 53-year-old Darke County resident, Sharon S., became a hospice patient last spring as she battled ovarian cancer. Divorced with no children, she had no support system and had no funds to pay for the hospice care she so badly needed. Not only did State of the Heart step in and provide the much needed care and emotional support she was lacking, the agency assumed the costs of her care which totaled nearly $10,000. In Mercer County we had another instance where we were able to help a patient in financial need. While living in California, Myra M. learned she had a life limiting illness, so she chose to return home to Mercer County where her only surviving family member, a brother, lived. Her physician referred her to State of the Heart Hospice. When she was referred to State of the Heart, she was listed as a “private pay” patient which meant that she had no insurance. And, unfortunately, she had no way of paying for her hospice care. State of the Heart assumed that cost which totaled $8,900. These two examples lead to the question about how we are able to provide such care. The answer is a simple one: through the generous financial support our community provides, with memorial donations, general contributions, foundations and granting sources, and fund raisers. Quite sim-ply, we could not do what we do without the financial support of those in the communities we serve. Recently, one of our nurses explained her views on the charity care we

with me,” he explained. He has ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Larry has had the disease for the past two years; life expectancy is three to five years with the fatal disease.

“It was great seeing this first wish fulfilled,” stated Kristi Strawser, the mother of Corynna Strawser, 16, who died in December under the care of State of the Heart. She had a rare disease called Mitochondrial Disease for which there is no cure. Her story and efforts to educate people about the disease touched the hearts and minds of countless people. She also believed in “paying it forward,” helping others as she had been helped.

“So many people stepped up to help her accomplish things she wanted to do,” Strawser said. “It is interesting that those same helpful efforts are being carried forward for others. It is inspiring.”

Kelly had expressed a desire to take his fiancé to see the ocean while he was still able to do so. The couple was gone four days in early October. The Dream Foundation paid for the airfare and hotel, and Corynna’s Wish paid for their food and incidentals while in Florida.

“It is just beautiful,” said Allen when she arrived and viewed the beach from her hotel balcony which overlooked a vast expanse of white sand. The couple did get to walk the beach together, fulfilling another wish. “It was a beautiful experience,” said Larry after returning home to Indiana.

It was coincidental that the day they returned home, Saturday, October 4, was the same day that State of the Heart held the first fund raiser for Corynna’s Wish at the Stillwater Valley Golf Club near Versailles. “It was a night of great fun for golfers and a unique experience,” stated Ryan

“We focus on providing the very best care that we can in the time they have remaining. Whether they

have insurance or not does not enter the picture when it comes to caring for the

patient.”

Gathard, Fund Development Director for State of the Heart. “It was gratifying to see the support for the event, and to realize that funds raised for Corynna’s Wish will help other patients like Larry fulfill their wish.”

Corynna’s Wish was established this year by the nonprofit agency and is for State of the Heart patients who either cannot financially accomplish their wish or are limited in their physical abilities to complete their final wish in life.

Allen said that she cried before they left the hotel. “I was so happy,” she said. “I wished it could have gone on longer.” The couple is extremely grateful for the efforts to fulfill Larry’s wish, she said.

For more information about Corynna’s Wish or to make a contribution to the program, or to learn more about the services provided by State of the Heart, visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org

Greenville Federal Provides Funds for Poinsettias for Hospice PatientsBy: Larry Kinneer, Promotional Writer

A tradition that began over 20 years ago at State of the Heart Hospice is continuing again this year with all patients under the care of the nonprofit agency receiving a beautiful poinsettia as a Christmas gift from the agency. This year, the funding for the poinsettias was provided by Greenville Federal in Greenville.

“We appreciate the generosity of Greenville Federal,” stated Ryan Gathard, director of Fund Development for State of the Heart. “This gift is meaningful not only for our staff, but for the many patients and families we serve.”

Giving back to local communities has long been a trademark of Greenville Federal, the oldest bank headquartered in Darke County. “We are happy to help State of the Heart Hospice with the continuation of this tradition.” states Susan Barker, SVP & CFO.

Recently, 139 poinsettias were collected by State of the Heart volunteers Bruce Miller and Ralph Gels to be distributed to the three hospice offices – Greenville, Coldwater and Portland. In addition, poinsettias were taken to the State of the Heart Care Center at Wayne HealthCare.

This year, Hannah’s Garden Center located on U.S. Route 36 East in Greenville, partnered in supplying the poinsettias. “We are delighted to be involved in this project,” stated Jim Meade, who along with his wife Patti, own Hannah’s Garden Center. “We are grateful for their support this year,” Gathard said. “We are pleased to join with Hannah’s on this outreach to our patients and families.”

For 34 years, State of the Heart has provided care to patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are con-fronting a life limiting illness. For more information about any of the services provided by the nonprofit agency, visit the web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

As I listen to conversations among our staff, I know we are organization made up of dedicated caring individuals who are focused on quality patient care. Not only are they focused on quality care they are empathetic and treat our patients with the compassion they would want to receive. They realize that none of us want to leave this life alone, in pain, with any loss of dignity. That is an important part of the belief system we all have in hospice care.

Empathy is Just Our Nature and Our Gift According to the dictionary, empathy is the ability to mutually experience the thoughts, emotions, and direct experience of others. Hospice care goes beyond sympathy, which is a feeling of care and understanding for the suffering of others. Both words have similar usage but differ in their emotional meaning. Thinking of our own losses we as employees have experienced and seen,empathy is just our nature and our gift.

With care & warm wishes for the New Year,

Mindy Stebbins, Director of Business Development

“The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering & loss daily & not be touched by it is as

unrealistic as expecting to walk through water without getting wet.” - Rachel Naomi Reman, MD.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM STATE OF THE HEART!