The Gift of Hospice Care
A five-year-old girl was receiving advanced paediatric palliative care at home with her mom and dad. Usually, when outsiders would visit their home, it would be medical professionals arriving to do diagnostic tests and medical check-ins.
When the Emily’s House music therapist would visit, she showed up for the child – for the child’s enjoyment, therapeutic self-expression, and delight through music. The child took a great interest in exploring the treasure chest of travelling instruments the Emily’s House music therapist brought to their in-home sessions. Given her limited mobility and autonomy, the opportunity to choose an instrument from the treasure chest was always a thrill for this child. Her favourite instrument from the musical treasure chest was the ukulele! During their earliest music therapy sessions, she chose to play the ukulele while the music therapist played guitar.
Advanced cancer made her tired, but otherwise she was a very talkative, cognitively-sharp five-year old, who functioned at an age-appropriate level. She also truly enjoyed music. Over the weeks of therapeutic in-home sessions, she would get more and more tired, and rather than play an instrument herself, she started to choose an instrument for the music therapist to play for her.
To co-write a Legacy Song Composition with the Emily’s House music therapist, she shared her thoughts and favourite memories about her parents. The music therapist also interviewed the parents, for their input to the collaboration. When it was completed, and they were ready for the first listen to the final song recording, her mom got her dressed up and recorded a video of her reaction to the first hearing.
Although she was tired, and her illness had advanced quite far, her parents could see she appreciated that the family’s collaborative song had come together, and expressed something beautiful about her family. The morning after they played the song for her, she died peacefully at home.
In total, she received four months of self-expression, composition and comfort visits with our music therapist; and her family received the gift of this very special legacy memory and song to treasure for years to come.
What makes a good gift, anyway?
As we move into the season of celebrations and gift giving, maybe ugly sweaters, shiny new drum kits, and elaborate Lego sets jump to mind. These are all fantastic gifts.
Reading the anonymous feedback surveys from our hospice client families, I am reminded that it is also a gift to: “Having your child be treated as a unique person.” “Acts of kindness” are a gift. Living in a “Clean home.” Providing “Enough time when talking so that a person doesn’t feel rushed” is a gift; as is “Having support for the entire family during difficult times.”
Through these surveys and through face-to-face interactions during programming, individuals and caregivers benefiting from the hospice programs of Emily’s House children’s hospice and Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care (PAC) told us how much of a gift hospice care was to their families this last year:
“I rely on Emily’s House so much and I get a much-needed break when my child is staying there.”
“We are really exhausted by daily life and caregiving. Respite allows us to recharge, connect as a couple and spend time with our other child.”
Trust. Time together as a family. “Helping medical parents like us build trust in other caregivers of our children, to help encourage us to get respite support. It feels impossible to trust others with a medically complex child, and your Emily’s House team is extraordinary in building this trust in a compassionate, safe and thoughtful way. Thank you!!!”
Tools to help manage the overwhelm: “PAC has helped me through my grief, fears, and frustrations. It has taught me how to process situations. I find it difficult to communicate my needs to others. I’m now more confident in addressing situations that would otherwise overwhelm me. Without PAC, I don’t know how I would be able to navigate this journey.”
A community of support: “Everything impacts mental health, which is why you need to be rooted in Strength, community, and a group who knows and supports you, where it is safe to share and disclose your pain.”
Self expression and comfort are beautiful gifts for anyone. Our music therapist says: “Going in the home, when families can’t get out, immediately lessens the isolation, and starts a new journey of self-expression and comfort.”
In the year ahead, thousands more children, adults, families and caregivers will benefit greatly from priceless gifts just like these, with your help. Please give the gift of hospice this season.
Please donate online today. Simply complete the online donor form to make a one-time donation, or let us know if you would like to initiate monthly giving. When you give the gift of hospice, you help make the most of the moments available.
Emily’s House children’s hospice, Emily’s House at Home, and the Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care community program (for adults and children) – provide a range of supports for children, adults, caregivers, and families. In a preferred care environment, practical and wrap-around psychosocial supports can include social work, grief and bereavement, spiritual care, caregiver support, medical or recreational respite, child life, music therapy, children’s camps, peer group supports, volunteers, in-home care, and a customized care plan to add quality to life for each life shared with us.
Thank you in advance for the gift that is on your heart to give.
With appreciation from our families and our team, season’s greetings and Merry Christmas!
Rauni Salminen
Rauni Salminen, CEO Emily’s House/Philiip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care
P.S. If you donate before December 31st, you will receive a 2025 charitable tax receipt for your gift with our thanks.
