Hospice Caregivers for Rachel
Donation protected
It's time for me to enter hospice care. After battling congestive heart failure for over a year and a half, and discussing the situation with my husband, doctors, social workers, and others who support me, I "pulled the rope" on hospice yesterday, August 7th. My health has deteriorated significantly since I was diagnosed, despite my--and my doctors'--best efforts to the contrary. I am breathless, exhausted, and sometimes confused. I am unsteady on my feet, hypotensive, and sometimes short of oxygen.
Though I'm bedridden 90% of the time now, I've begun to need more frequent assistance the other 10%. Help with meals. Help with bathing. Help with not-falling on the way to the bathroom. Help dressing. Help sorting through the 30+ medications I take on a daily basis. Although hospice volunteers and nurses will assist with some of this, it won't be enough, unfortunately. I'm going to need additional in-home care, and as things get worse over the next weeks or months, I'll need even more.
But the cost of in-home care--at an average of $21/hour--can add up very quickly. I estimate needing an average of 4hours/day as my condition progresses, or about $2400/month. Six months of hospice comes to just under $15,000. This GoFundMe would help defray those costs, so I can stay in my home as my life winds down. Stay with my husband, and our cats, surrounded by their love.
My gratitude towards those who have helped me thus far on my journey--with rides to out-of-town doctors, or food, or petcare, for instance--is incalculable. You are so very dear to me. If you are moved to contribute here towards my ongoing care, thank you, from the bottom of my (albeit kablooied) heart.
More information about me and my fight with congestive heart failure can be found at CaringBridge. Follow me there for medical updates.
Thank you so much for the love you've all shown me, and for the opportunity to walk this life with you. Peace and light to you all.
Though I'm bedridden 90% of the time now, I've begun to need more frequent assistance the other 10%. Help with meals. Help with bathing. Help with not-falling on the way to the bathroom. Help dressing. Help sorting through the 30+ medications I take on a daily basis. Although hospice volunteers and nurses will assist with some of this, it won't be enough, unfortunately. I'm going to need additional in-home care, and as things get worse over the next weeks or months, I'll need even more.
But the cost of in-home care--at an average of $21/hour--can add up very quickly. I estimate needing an average of 4hours/day as my condition progresses, or about $2400/month. Six months of hospice comes to just under $15,000. This GoFundMe would help defray those costs, so I can stay in my home as my life winds down. Stay with my husband, and our cats, surrounded by their love.
My gratitude towards those who have helped me thus far on my journey--with rides to out-of-town doctors, or food, or petcare, for instance--is incalculable. You are so very dear to me. If you are moved to contribute here towards my ongoing care, thank you, from the bottom of my (albeit kablooied) heart.
More information about me and my fight with congestive heart failure can be found at CaringBridge. Follow me there for medical updates.
Thank you so much for the love you've all shown me, and for the opportunity to walk this life with you. Peace and light to you all.
Organizer
Rachel Horn McGonagill
Organizer
Corvallis, OR