Support from the Community
Devoted Siblings Thankful for Mom’s Hospice Care (continued) “Hospice showed us how to integrate Sue into our lives and honor her memory while building a ‘new normal,’” notes Mark. “That idea comes to life in Ruby, who loves to knit like Sue and play volleyball like Casey. Hospice not only helped us cope with cancer, but also grow as a family together.” Mark Palmer is donating proceeds from his workshop, The Generative AI Growth Mindset (https://maven.com/techno-sapien/growth-mindset), to Care Dimensions. “It was such a blessing that somebody told me what I needed to know – about the benefits of hospice, and how to help my children through their grief while keeping Sue’s memory alive,” says Mark. In 2013, Mark remarried and moved his family to Long Island, NY. He and his wife, Casey, raised Jack and Ruby through middle school, high school, and eventually to college. Jack recently graduated from Duke University, and Ruby is a sophomore at Highpoint University in North Carolina. Mark proudly reports that his children have become successful, kind adults. from other kids. During the teenage years, some kids have problems breaking away from a single parent – usually, with two parents, it’s natural to break with one and stay close with the other. The session helped me view death through Jack and Ruby’s eyes, not the eyes of a parent, and to better communicate with them in a way that made sense for their age.” In his article, “When You Suddenly Become a Mom and a Dad,” Mark discusses this and other lessons that helped him and his children cope with Sue’s death, including: • Lean on friends and family to help you get through the first year after the loss. • Adopt a love mantra to keep your loved one’s spirit with you and your children. Gratitude Endures Years After Wife’s Hospice Care (continued) • Make yourself happy, and your children will follow your lead. • An apocalypse is an uncovering—mostly, it uncovers love. Reflections and giving back “The chaplain would visit one-on-one with our mom, talk with her, and even play guitar and sing to her!” exclaims Ron. “She also greatly helped us deal with the sadness of our mother’s condition. The emotional and mental health support we received was much appreciated.” “Eva’s family did a beautiful job helping to bring her life full circle by caring for her with the same tenderness and 24/7 vigilance that she would have had for them as babies,” notes Hilary. Family grateful for support Several times, family members called Care Dimensions’ nursing support line for advice or to request help during off-hours. “We’d call – sometimes it was 2 o’clock in the morning – and someone would come out,” recalls Ron. “They’d stay as long as they were needed. Our mom’s hospice team saw me and my siblings as part of their responsibility.”
Generous Grant to Support Kaplan House for Next Decade Since opening in 2005, the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers has been a sanctuary for more than 16,000 patients and their families on their end-of-life journeys. Like any building, particularly a medical facility like Kaplan, ongoing funding is crucial for maintaining the structure and surrounding grounds. The Kaplan Family Foundation recently awarded a generous 10-year, $500,000 grant to support the facility. The purpose of the funding is to ensure the house is well-maintained, safe, comfortable, and family- friendly by addressing a range of internal and external projects such as HVAC repairs, flooring, and other improvements.
“We are grateful for the enduring support of the Kaplan family, who not only understand our mission but have been steadfast supporters throughout the years,” said Care Dimensions President & CEO Stephanie Patel, MD. “This grant will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the Kaplan House continues to provide a peaceful and comfortable setting for our patients.” This grant marks a renewed commitment of funds from the Kaplan family a decade ago. And it echoes their instrumental financial support over 20 years ago that was crucial to the construction of the Kaplan House.
‘Ice Cream for Breakfast’ a Big Hit On a Saturday in early February, Putnam Pantry Candies, Ice Creams, and Café in Danvers observed National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day by hosting a fundraiser for Care Dimensions. Hundreds of people turned out for the event, which featured two scoops of ice cream between a Belgian waffle, plus special toppings from Putnam’s extensive smorgasbord. Care Dimensions thanks store owners Cathie and Eric Emerson (at left in photo), and associate Amanda Donahue (right), who presented a $3,000 check to Lyn Skarmeas, VP and chief strategy officer, and Patricia Ramsden, chief clinical officer.
“Care Dimensions allowed our mother and our family the dignity and support that we needed.” ~ Patricia Griffen
Eva died peacefully at Stephen’s home in June 2023, following nine months of hospice care. In appreciation for the care Eva and her children received, her family made a generous donation.
Every gift to Care Dimensions makes a difference in the life-changing care and support we provide to every patient and their family. Scan the QR code to make a donation or visit CareDimensions.org/Donate . Thank you for your ongoing support!
“Care Dimensions allowed our mother and our family the dignity and support that we needed to face the many challenges during this period of our lives,” says Patricia. “We, as a family, are eternally grateful.” Care Dimensions thanks the Griffen family for their support.
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