transitionsT H E N E W S L E T T E R O F S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F

Dr. DebDr. Deb Braithwaite has worked with Victoria Hospice since 1984. Known affectionately as “Dr. Deb” to her patients and their families, she has been a trailblazer at Victoria Hospice for 34 years. Throughout her long history, Dr. Deb’s professionalism, passion and kindness have won her the respect and admiration of everyone she has worked with or treated.

More than three generations of patients, families and physicians have benefitted from Dr. Deb’s care and skill.

“Dr. Deb Braithwaite has cared for thousands of people at the most vulnerable time of their lives. Her ability to deeply connect with patients and families has afforded them immense succour and practical help over the years she worked at Victoria Hospice,” says Dr. Douglas McGregor, Medical Director at Victoria Hospice.

We invite you to read Dr. Deb’s reflections on her Hospice career.

Dr. Deb’s Reflections: Celebrating her 34-year Career at Victoria HospiceTHE EARLY YEARS

I graduated from medical school at a time when we were just starting to acknowledge that dying patients shouldn’t be abandoned, that we should keep going into their rooms and keep paying attention to them. They certainly were not viewed as a discrete patient population. This idea that dying patients had physical and psychosocial needs was just starting to come into play.

During my medical residency, I had some not-so-happy experiences involving patients at end of life. I recall not being able to keep them comfortable or to support them with medications. When I recognized that I could not control these basic symptoms, I knew I really wanted to learn more. There were a lot of medical myths out there about what would happen if you controlled people’s symptoms with opioids, and that was the part I was most interested in. When the opportunity came up to learn more, I grabbed it!

Victoria Hospice was past the pilot project stage when I started in 1984, but palliative care was still very much a small sideline. The mentorship I received from founders Dr. Michael Downing and Dr. Jim Wilde was a huge advantage for me when I was fresh out of medical school.

As a new grad, I was as green as the grass. With no experience, I went right into palliative medicine. I got a little orientation on the unit, but within two weeks I was on call for the weekend.

After five years of delaying becoming a family practitioner, my dear friend Dr. Mary Wynne Ashford said to me,

“You know what Deb, you don’t have to be a family doc; you could stay at Hospice. This was the career your guidance counsellor never told you about!”

FINDING BALANCE

For a lot of people starting work in palliative care, it’s a process of getting used to the fact that every patient is dying. It wasn’t any different for me. What I noticed is that people who had been in it for a while seemed to have found a balance between having compassion for patients at the end of

“Green as the Grass,” Dr. Deb jumped into palliative medicine.

Dr. Mary Wynne Ashford and Dr. Deb Braithwaite always talked about going into family practice together. Luckily for Victoria Hospice, Dr. Deb chose palliative care instead.

Continued on page 2

their lives and not being professionally or personally overwhelmed by that fact.

Later in my career, the challenge was to maintain that balance. It’s easy to grow protective filters that are too thick, that cut you off from the experiences of patients and their families. At first the challenge is to grow sufficient filters, and then it’s to keep checking that they remain appropriate.

Hospice also afforded me the chance to work part-time throughout my entire career, which for me was the key to finding that balance. I needed to be fully present when I was at work, both mentally and emotionally well-rested. Just as importantly, when I took off my doctor’s hat, I needed to have complete faith that those patients would be well cared for by my colleagues. And they were.

REFLECTIONS ON WORKING AT HOSPICE

Even though one has to give up the notion that you’re going to save anyone’s life, you do have the privilege of knowing that your contributions to their care can make a huge difference to the quality of the time they have left. When dying is in the near future, the most important thing is always quality of life.

The clinical work has been extremely rewarding. I will miss it. The contact one has with people at the end of their lives — when you are dealing with them at the full essence of who they are — it allows you to be more who you are. The work has allowed me to give quality time to patients when they might otherwise spend it languishing in hospitals with poorly controlled symptoms, not being able to do the things that are important to them, and spending their final days consumed by physical and emotional pain without support. The growth in research and the tremendous success rate of palliative medicine has increased our knowledge base one hundred fold since I started.

I will miss the eclectic, committed, compassionate group of people that work at Hospice. They come from different walks of life, backgrounds and experience but seem to share similar ideas of what’s important and what’s not. When I was contemplating staying in palliative care or going into family medicine, I remember feeling like I was a hand in the glove of palliative care. There was a fit that had to do with not having to explain yourself to other people because you had so much in common.

WHAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT MEANS TO OUR WORK

Community support has allowed us to remain fairly independent in our governance, more nimble in adapting to changing populations, needs and requirements, and more efficient in allocating limited resources. I think that the original vision for Victoria Hospice has not only endured but also improved over the years. Thirty-seven years on, we deliver care to thousands of Victorians annually and enjoy the unprecedented support of the community who still give generously of their time and money.

WHERE I SEE HOSPICE CARE GOING IN THE FUTURE

I have an abundance of faith that Hospice will, with all of our ongoing assistance, continue to provide skilled, timely, compassionate care, in a manner that reflects patient and family priorities at end of life. For me, the fundamentals of quality palliative care are like a memorable melody, one that inspires, connects and reminds us of our collective experiences and values. It matters less how the tune is performed — be it on a piccolo or an orchestra — but rather that it continues to be performed. And, however palliative care evolves in our community in the future, I hope that tuneful melody will remain.

To find out more about how you can support Hospice and palliative

care in your community, or how you can provide more doctors, like

Dr. Deb, with the resources to support patients at the end of their

lives, please contact 250-519-1744 or info@VictoriaHospice.org.

The eclectic, committed, compassionate people who worked with Dr. Deb, L–R: Dr. Michael Downing, Dr. Fraser Black, Dr. Christine Jones, Executive Director Dave Cheperdak and Dr. Peter Kirk.

With her genuine demeanour and friendly professional approach, Dr. Deb has been putting patients and their families at ease for over 30 years.

Dr. Deb continued from front page

2

Terry (3rd from the right) with members of the Think Communications team in 2017. This year, Terry will return with his own team from Cisco who are working hard to double their impact thanks to an employee matching program.

PHOTO: VALERIE HIDER

Gratitude for father’s care drives local tech worker to support Hospice care programs

Victoria Hospice’s Cycle of Life Tour, set for July 28–29, has

broken a record — even before it’s taken place! Registration this spring sold out in just 24 hours. One of the lucky cyclists to secure a spot on the two-day ride is Terry Pettigrew, an Account Manager with Cisco. Last year Terry rode with business associates and long-time sponsors of the event, Think Communications. “I’m a big cyclist and had done some mountain biking trips, but never a tour like this.” The camaraderie, the scenery and the cause made for a truly memorable experience.

“I think I met just about all the riders,” said Terry. “Everyone was so friendly.”

This year Terry is back with his own team of Cisco employees, called The Blazing Saddles. Thanks to an employee matching program and their creative fundraising efforts, the team is set to make a big impact.

The Blazing Saddles are actively canvassing their Cisco colleagues from across Canada. With Cisco matching employees’ donations to charity, dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 per employee per year, the results of their fundraising efforts will be doubled! The company also donates $10 per volunteer hour and provides employees with 5 days of paid volunteer time off per year.

As Terry and his teammates are a musical bunch, they are also hosting a Blues Night fundraiser at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in June. Terry is most excited about the Vegas-style tip jar on the piano. “The idea is we’ll take requests, but the larger the tip, the more likely we’ll be to play your song.”

The cause is important to Terry because his father, George, received Hospice care nearly 15 years ago. Terry is grateful for the support he and his family experienced. “They took over the day-to-day worrying so we were able to just

spend time with him, tell him we loved him, and that was the important thing.”

By combining their talents and tapping into support from their employer, the Blazing Saddles are making it possible for more families to benefit from hospice care and spend important time together. You can help them blaze through their fundraising goal by donating to the Blazing Saddles team at www.cycleoflifetour.ca.

The Cycle of Life Tour is an annual, two-

day, group cycling fundraiser that takes

85 cyclists nearly 200 km in support of

Vancouver Island hospice care. Since

2011, the event has raised over $500,000.

Special thanks to sponsors of the Cycle of

Life Tour for making this important event

possible, including: Think Communications,

Country Grocer, Oak Bay Bicycles, The

Zone @91.3, 100.3 the Q, Vancouver Island

Real Estate Board, First Memorial Funeral

Services, and Island Mediquip.

3

SuT2

018

Your Donation Makes a DifferenceYES! I would like to provide care to patients and families in need.

Donation preference: ¨ One-time ¨ Monthly / My donation: ¨ $25 ¨ $50 ¨ $100 ¨ $250 ¨ $500 ¨ Other . . . . . . . . . . .

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

City/Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postal Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Credit card type: ¨ VISA ¨ MasterCard ¨ AmEx

Card # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Expiry date: __ __ / __ __

My donation is in memory of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please send an acknowledgement letter to

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

City/Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postal Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

¨ I would like to receive Victoria Hospice e-newsletters.¨ I wish to remain anonymous.¨ I have included Victoria Hospice in my Will.¨ I am interested in finding out more about including Victoria Hospice in my Will. Thank you!

Every gift you give to Victoria Hospice

changes lives.

Your donation...

... relievespatients’ pain

and discomfort.... honours

the life of your loved one.

... helps patients and their loved ones make the most of their remaining time.

... enables patients to receive care wherever they

choose—in the comfort of their

own homes through the help of our Palliative Response Team (PRT), or on our 17-bed Inpatient Unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

... provides compassionate

care of the whole person, beyond

clinical symptoms, including

emotional, psychosocial and spiritual care for

both patients and their loved ones.

... funds training and research to ensure that Victoria

Hospice’s care continues to adapt to meet the needs of the people

we serve.

... supports patients and their families

as they cope with the suffering, confusion and

fear that may surround the end-of-life journey before,

during and after death.

#

What’s Most Important at Victoria Hospice The lesson at left, taken from the pages of Leo Tolstoy’s short story, The Three Questions, in many ways mirrors Victoria Hospice’s approach to care.

� The most important time is now, because time is precious for people living with a terminal illness.

� The most important person is the patient or family member we’re meeting with in that moment.

� The most important thing to do is to meet them where they are — emotionally and spiritually, as well as physically — and to attend to their comfort and needs in that moment.

This is the work that you make possible. Through your support of Victoria Hospice, there is a team of expert doctors, nurses, counsellors, clerks and volunteers who are truly

present and come alongside patients and families as they navigate their end-of-life journey.

Of course, no one at Victoria Hospice modelled this patient-centred approach to care better than Dr. Deb Braithwaite (featured in this issue). For the past 34 years, she gave thousands of patients and families her compassion and kindness and, in so doing, she helped shape what hospice care is today.

She leaves us with big shoes to fill. But I know that with your support, we will continue to build on her legacy, and we will always find ways to be present for those in need.

Sincerely,

Tom Arnold Director of Fund Development

Whether you choose to give

a monthly gift or a planned

gift in your Will, rest assured

that (in the words of Dr. Deb),

“Hospice knows how to make

a dollar scream.”

Thank you for your support in

making patient care possible.

“

”

Remember that there is only one important time and it is Now….

The most important person is always the person… who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future?

The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at your side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.

Leo Tolstoy

The Three Questions

5

Victoria Hospice Society Board of DirectorsMarguerite Rowe

presidentRob Gareau

past presidentDeedrie Ballard

vice presidentClark Lawrence

treasurerBrenda Canitz

Dr. Eric Charman C.M., O.B.C., L.L.D.

Steve ClarkTerry FarmerEileen HarperZahra Rayani-

KanjiTim Schober

Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation Board of DirectorsDeedrie Ballard

presidentRob GareauClark Lawrence

Marguerite RoweJason SikoraColin Weavers

Victoria Hospice VisionQuality end-of-life care for all

Victoria Hospice MissionTo enhance the quality of life for those facing advancing illness, death and bereave-ment through skilled and compassionate care, education, research and advocacy

Would you like to share your Hospice story? We would love to hear from you.

Contact Jordan McClymont, Donor Relations Officer

at 250-519-1744 or Jordan.McClymont@VictoriaHospice.org

Thank you.

4th Floor, Richmond Pavilion 1952 Bay Street, Victoria BC V8R 1J8

250-519-1744 info@VictoriaHospice.org

www.VictoriaHospice.org

Charitable Registration Number

11928 4230 RR0001

Victoria Hospice respects your privacy, and we do not sell, trade, lend or rent

any of your personal information.

transitionsT H E N E W S L E T T E R O F

IN MEMORY Desmond J. Ahearne · Soini Noona

Airaksinen · Eileen Alexander · Muriel E. Andrews · Samuel S.

Archer · Gordon Ayre · Sharon Ball · Tommy Banks · Constance

Barkes · Valerie D. Barnes · Robert Baxter · Ralph Beisiegel

· Traute Bendow · Gwen Bentley · Judy L. Biickert · Robert

Bloomfield · Thomas G. Blyth · Jennifer Bodner · Catherine

Bray · Hazel Brooks · Peter Browne · Bob Buckingham · Shirley

Burchak · Joy Burkard · Margaret E. Campbell · Molly Carey ·

Edward G. Chow · John Christensen · Doreen Clapp · Norman

Clarke · James Cline · Louise D. Cobon · Mary Collins · Gladys

Connor · Janet S. Cosman · George Cowman · Merna M. Dallinger

· Sandra Davis · Rino Debei · Florin Diacu · Elizabeth Dodwell

· Jaclyn Dorsey · Stewart W. A. Duncan · Charles Duncan · Jo

Durie · Marge Elphick · Alan Emery · Audrey Farey · Kathleen

Farmer · Daniel Ferguson · Denise Finlay · Leonard A. Fitch ·

Patricia Forbes · George Goossen · David Gray · Marguerite

Green · M. Gropp · Evelyn Grundison · Robert Guskey · Edward

Hammond · Cameron Harris · Sue D. Hasell · Patricia Henderson

· Joan H. Hewer · Barry Hilton · Patrick Hirst · Syliva Holm · Anna

Hui · Lesley Hulme · Gloria A. Humphrey · Corrine Hussey · Elsie

Jones · Fred Jones · Alice S. Kennedy · Theo Kersten · Roey

Kert · Edna Kilner · Lavone Landie · Kenneth C. Lawrence · Joan

Lawson · Peter Leahy · Mickey Lee · Jim Lindsay · Doris Linn · Paul

Mably · Mike Macfarlane · Janet MacIntyre · Ian MacRae · Colin L.

Mantell · Blair Marshall · Madeline Mason · Dorothy A. McCartney

· Ivy McCreadie · Ray McDermott · Terry McNeil · William McNeill

· Bruce Milburn · Jo-Anne Monk · Cynthia Mooney · Richard

Mooney · Robert Morgan · Phyllis M. Morris · Phil Morris · John

A. Mulroney · Muriel D. Neale · Morris Negin · Gordon Nickells ·

Andre Nyhof · Allan Olson · Evalyn Partridge · Gary Peddle · Albert

E. Peeling · Margaret Pinkney · Robert Plank · Sylvia B. Plumridge

· Richard Porter · Eileen Poulin · Amy Putt · David Ramage · Hazel

M. Redmond · Phil Reisig · Peter Rey · Jaime Ribeiro · Dave

Riddell · Milforde Rose · Robert Rouse · Frank Rowbottom ·

Henry Schaumburg · Helen Schwartz · Theresa Seward · Evelyn

G. Sheldrick · Merv Shnider · Judith Sjerven · Suzanne Skedgel-

Hill · Audrie Smith · William Snow · Eugene Sochor · Emilio Soda

· Audrey Stafford · Sheryl Steeves · William Stewart · Douglas

Stewart · George Stricker · Edna Sullivan · Marion J. Switzer ·

Rae Terlson · John F. Tomczak · Joy Trail · Philip Trofimuk · Lois

Verchomin · Alan Vernon · Gareth Walter · Stephen Watson ·

George Waugh · Jean Waugh · Douglas Wellwood · Jennifer

Whybrow · Rosemary Wilson · Alastair Wilson · Julie Wysocki

IN HONOUR Liz & Steve Adilman · Margaret Drummond ·

Ruth Jacobson White · Lee Shepherd

Compassionate care at Victoria Hospice is made possible through the generosity of our community. The individuals listed below have been remembered by friends and loved ones with gifts In Memory and In Honour. These meaningful gifts honour precious lives and help to enhance quality of life for other patients and families in need. Gifts made In Memory or In Honour between February 1, 2018 and April 30, 2018:

Save the Date!For more information, please visit www.victoriahospice.org/events

Sat. July 28 & Sun. July 29

6th Annual Cycle of Life Tour

Sat. July 28 Jaguars on the Island

Sun. Sept. 9 7th Annual Ambriss Clermont Memorial Ride

Sat. Sept 15 Shred-a-thon (poster at right)

ANYTIME Bottles for Hospice: Drop your empties off at a Bottle Depot on Quadra, Queens or Glanford, for Victoria Hospice!

Saturday September 15 9 am–12 pm

Hillside Centre

North Dairy Road at Shelbourne Street

Parking Lot

Confidential shredding by

donation!

Clear out old documents

and tax files

Suggested donation

$10 per box

Proceeds support end-of-life care 250-519-1744 VictoriaHospice.org

Shredding services donated by

6