Hospice for the Gallaghers, hospitality from the Gallaghers

Imagine for a second that your doctor is telling you point-blank that you’re going to die.

Now imagine that there’s a reporter standing on your doorstep, asking you to talk openly and candidly about that experience.

This is exactly the situation that Bill and Tomi Gallagher have faced since last winter.

“I think we didn’t realize that Bill wasn’t going to get better until the doctor said it very frankly,” Tomi says.  “So you kind of have to face that.”

The Gallaghers signed up for hospice care with High Peaks Hospice and also agreed to meet with me every week or two to talk about their experience.

That kind of generosity isn’t exactly rare in the North Country.

But it is a kind of trust that does sometimes give me pause about the work I do.

When someone shares with me a story this important and sensitive and difficult, it’s a blessing and a gift to be sure.  But it’s also a daunting responsibility.

So in case it doesn’t come through loud and clear in the series The Hospice Path that begins today, here are the two big take-aways.

First, hospice can be incredibly valuable for people trying to find as much richness as possible at the end of their lives.  Here’s how Tomi puts it:

“We needed some help and direction in kind of trying to continue on with life.  I mean, hey — let’s not pull the lid over yet, you know?”

Secondly, the Gallaghers are people who find a way to give and show hospitality even when their own challenges are monumental.

I think you’ll hear how open and vulnerable and honest they’ve been in describing this time in their lives.

But you’ll also get a sense for their courage.

My hope is that their story will help others in the North Country to understand that there are people and services available when their own crisis comes.

If you’ve had experience with hospice and feel comfortable talking about it, please post comments below.