Jim and Susan met at the library where she works in Fontana, WI. At the time, Jim was undergoing treatment for leukemia. After dating for a couple of years, he proposed at the same library, and they got married in 2015. It was the second marriage for them both.
Then, in January 2018, Jim was hospitalized at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center for C. diff, a bacterium that causes an infection of the colon.
“He was in the hospital for about a week, including several days in the intensive care unit,” recalled Susan. “There were some touch-and-go moments, but he was discharged to a local rehabilitation center, where he had physical and occupational therapy. After that, he had home care for a few weeks, but we weren’t happy with his care.”
After another stay at Aurora Lakeland for dehydration, Susan asked to switch to Aurora Home Health because they’d been so happy with his care at the hospital.
“We had an excellent home health team that included a nurse, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist and a speech therapist. Jim knew the nurse from years ago and they loved to chat and reminisce. The team was with us for a couple of months and got Jim back on his feet.”
Jim was in good health for several years until Memorial Day weekend 2022, when he fell twice.
“They weren’t bad falls. He told me he suddenly couldn’t move forward or backwards, so he let himself crumple to the floor,” explained Susan. “We went to the Emergency Department, and when they didn’t find anything wrong, he was cleared to come home.”
The home health team returned to work with Jim again, but in July, he got COVID. Jim was hospitalized for several days and then transferred to a rehab center for weeks. But his health deteriorated, and his doctor recommended home hospice care.
“Again, I insisted on Aurora. All his doctors were from Aurora, and we were so happy with the home health team that I wanted to continue his journey with their hospice team,” shared Susan. “They were so supportive. Whenever I needed anything, they were there for me. In the last few days, I couldn’t get him in and out of bed on my own, so they helped move Jim’s hospital bed into the living room. They were just wonderful.”
Jim passed away peacefully at his home on Sept. 10, 2022, three days before his 91st birthday.
“The support I received from the Aurora Home Health and Hospice teams were instrumental in my ability to keep Jim comfortable in our home, like he wanted,” said Susan. “He would have had to live his final days in the hospital if it wasn’t for their care and support; I couldn’t have done it without them.”
After Jim passed, Susan received additional support from a grief counselor.
“She’s been very helpful and supportive in helping me cope with my grief. She helps me talk through things and process my emotions.”
Giving back
Grateful for the care and support she’d received from Aurora Home Health and Hospice, Susan wanted to give back. She also wanted to honor her husband’s life and plan for her own future. She decided to make a generous bequest to support Aurora Home Health and Hospice.
“Jim loved Lake Geneva and Fontana. He knew many people in the community and enjoyed participating in activities in the area. So, I wanted our estate to support people in these communities,” explained Susan. “The Aurora Home Health and Hospice teams helped me and Jim so much. I want to make sure families in similar situations get that same level of support for years to come.”
About Aurora Home Health and Hospice
Aurora Health at Home has been committed to keeping people independent in their homes since 1907. Addressing the needs of the whole person, home health includes innovative care for people recovering from illness, injury or hospitalization, and those managing chronic diseases. Health at Home also includes hospice services, through which hospice team members ensure patients and their loved ones have the information they need to make decisions and provide care to complete their life’s journey with dignity and compassion. For loved ones grieving a loss, grief support services are offered through its Daybreak bereavement program.
Aurora Home Health and Hospice’s programs and services are supported by the generosity of donors like Susan.
“This bequest honors the home health and hospice team members who responded to Susan and Jim’s desire to receive the care he needed in the comfort of their own home,” shared Bruce Carter, Vice President, Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care. “Importantly, expressing thanks through philanthropic support helps us ensure this great care will be available for all families who need it, both now and in the future.”
You can make a difference for people like Jim and Susan. Learn more about estate planning or make a gift today.