Name/Title
Home Of Hope Emphasizes LivingDescription
Home Of Hope Emphasizes Living from the Agnesian Healthcare July 2009
When the late Art Thurmer's four sons decided to surround their dying father with the uplifting hands of Agnesian HealthCare's Hospice Home of Hope, an amazing transformation took place. In the process of dying, he lived.
Art Thurmer, who at 74 was an intelligent, ex-Marine with methodical daily habits and a social life that had stagnated after his wife's death, blossomed during his final six months of life at the Hospice Home of Hope. He died April 21, surrounded by his sons while a hospice volunteer named Deb held his hand and sang Amazing Grace in his ear — a hymn she also sang at his funeral.
Art's sons credit staff and volunteers for bringing out the best in their dad and for helping him dwell on living rather than dying.
"Dad didn't want to go there:" recalls his son Art Thurmer Jr., of Fox Lake. "While taking him last fall, he said 'How does it feel to be driving your dad to the place he's going to die?' I replied that I was taking him to the place he was going to live."
Although he fought it at first, Art Thurmer grew fond of his new home and became close friends with staff. He opened his heart and mind and in the process became stronger spiritually, mentally and socially — even as his body weakened.
"Dad went from being a somewhat stern, introverted man who'd become a house-hermit to an extrovert;" says Art Jr. "He grew to love the home-like place he lived. Staff got to see the real man he was."
While Hospice Hope aims to relieve the suffering of the dying patient, it also has a goal of providing opportunities for enjoyment.
"The emphasis is on living rather than dying;" says Denise Lewis, Hospice Home of Hope medical supervisor. She acknowledges that hospice is part of a larger philosophy known as palliative care — a group effort that addresses the patient's mental, emotional, social and medical needs much earlier — before a condition is considered terminal.
The optimistic team effort at the Hospice Home of Hope was the key to an improved quality of life for Art Thurmer in his final months.
Art's sons, Mike and Art Jr., say staff bent over backwards for their dad.
From bringing Art the glazed doughnuts they knew he loved, to filling his coffee cup just halfway as requested, staff performed good deeds that went beyond the family's expectations.
"As a Marine, Dad always made his own bed:" says Art Jr. He insisted on continuing the habit. Staff respected his wishes, giving him his dignity and independence. It's just one example of how they allowed him to do things his way."
The interaction between Art and the staff was special. "His passing was tough on them;' says Mike Thurmer, Art's son, from Waupun, who later learned of a close bond between his dad and a volunteer harpist.
Art had challenged her to play an unconventional jazz tune on the harp. A week later she returned to perform it. The light-hearted exchange between them continued.
"It was his way of clowning around and proof of how staff brought out the best in him:" says Mike.
Some even referred to Art as a 'sweetheart of a man,' says Art Jr. "That is remarkable, because although we knew he was a great person, we realized now that others were seeing the fine man he was too."
"He had a book of knowledge within him:" says Denise. "He opened that book and shared it with us. Art's courage and devotion to his sons was admirable. You could see they loved him deeply and that they would do anything for their father."Acquisition
Accession
2010.0500Source or Donor
Found in collection.Acquisition Method
Found in Collection
