A horse in the house? Why not? Anything to bring a little extra joy during a difficult time.
That's always the goal, said Emmanuel Hospice Nurse Case Manager Jamie DeKorte: to create a special experience for every hospice patient that helps them focus more on living.
These "patient wishes" look different for every individual and family Emmanuel Hospice serves. They've ranged from setting up a special date for a couple to inviting loved ones to enjoy an afternoon fishing. In this more recent example, it meant bringing a miniature horse right into a patient's home.
"From the moment we met Barb, we knew horses were important to her," DeKorte explained. "On admission, she asked us, 'Do you think I'll ever be able to ride a horse again?' We learned she had a history in horsemanship and noticed she was at her happiest watching videos and talking about horses."
It had been a while since Barb had been able to interact with these gentle creatures. While her condition meant going out and riding wouldn't be possible, her care team got creative.
"We thought, what a better way to cheer her up than to have a horse brought to her?" DeKorte said. "The generous hearts over at Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding were more than willing to bring our idea to fruition."
The experience was timed with Barb's dear grandson coming into town from Boston, making it even more special. To say Barb was ecstatic when Flicka the horse arrived at her doorstep would be an understatement.
"She was smiling ear to ear," DeKorte remembered. "After petting and feeding Flicka, she said, 'I wish you could stay here forever.' In those moments, I know Barb wasn't thinking about her illness. She was just so cheerful. It brought her peace and joy and made her feel loved."
With memories from Flicka's visit captured in photos that are now displayed in Barb's home, the joy continues.
"I see her face light up when we look at the pictures together," DeKorte said. "I'm so thankful for the generosity of the West Michigan community for making moments like this possible.
"We are only able to provide many of our services, including patient wishes, because of donations from people and organizations who have been touched by hospice and want to pay it forward. Our community is amazing for helping our patients focus more on what matters to them."
In addition to the Equest Center, Barb's horse dream was made possible by Bloom Credit Union, this year's patient wish program sponsor.
For more information and patient stories, visit EmmanuelHospice.org.
Written by Merrin Bethel Jacobson, Director of Marketing and Communications, Emmanuel Hospice.
Courtesy of Emmanuel Hospice.
