Ginger's Hospice Wish: We Got Her Home! :)

UPDATE:
Friday, January 10, 2020 1:30 p.m.
Ginger has landed at her new home in Niagara Falls, New York today. Here’s a few photos of her and her niece and Jim & Lori from Servant’s Heart who drove her on this incredible trip. I can only imagine her joy as they unloaded her bags and concentrator and the precious Christmas cactus, the last gift from her husband Pete.   It’s been an adventure and we never would have pulled it off without your donation.  Your support kept us motivated through the crazy month of December when there were a million other things distracting us.  Your comments on the GoFundMe page and on Facebook lifted up our team and kept us pushing to make this big day happen. 

Jim and Lori Haubrick of Servant’s Heart deserve extra special mention for taking on this trip.  Ginger’s oxygen needs were too high to allow her to fly or take a train and she had almost given up hope of ever leaving Arizona. They are experts at transporting patients with medical needs, our hospice patients use their services, so when they told us they thought it was possible, we knew Ginger would be in good hands.  They gave us a quote on the cost, talked through the details of what it might look like, prayed over it, and decided to join our hospice team on this dream challenge.

Jim’s kept our team in the loop as the trip progressed.  Ginger was a good traveler and spent most of the time reading books in the back of the van, propped up on a stretcher covered in two layers of memory foam, watching the states roll by.  The first photos I got were pictures of her shopping in Cracker Barrel, their dinner stop for the night.  She found a warm sweater for the cold weather up north.  “I haven’t been shopping in ages!” she told Jim.  The next day, I got a call and was able to talk with her as they drove through Missouri and told her our hospice team was sending lots of love. She sent me a text: “Thanks everybody, a dream came true!”   She also shared she was using 2L less oxygen now at the lower altitudes, something we hoped would happen for her. 

There have been so many highlights on this journey. Folks who shared their hospice stories with us as they gave us donations at the Forest Villa Sangria Social and the Last Minute Stocking Stuffer Bazaar.  The woman who pressed two dollars into my hand saying “it’s been a tough month, but I want to give you this for Ginger.”  A piece in the local paper that touched many hearts and got us halfway to our goal in a week.  A generous check from the Prescott Frontier Rotary club.  The enthusiasm of our hospice staff, who were the first to donate to the cause.  Getting to ride along with Jim, Lori and their adorable granddaughter on the winding curves to Wilhoit to meet Ginger and tell her the good news the trip was a go.  The fiery sunset over the mountains on the night we packed Ginger up in the van.  The tears and hugs from friends as they said goodbye. (And so many other moments that I'll think of after I post this!)

Thank you for helping us make Ginger’s wish come true.  Everyone deserves to be surrounded by family at the end of life.  Your kindness and generosity made it happen and will not be forgotten.

With great love and appreciation from our entire Good Samaritan Society Hospice team. 

Kelly Paradis, GSS Hospice and Marley House

====================================


Help Ginger spend her remaining days surrounded by family
Our Good Samaritan Hospice patient, Ginger, a retired VA nurse, tragically lost her husband, Pete,  of 30+ years. He was a third-generation firefighter and volunteered with the Southern Yavapai Fire Department.  He died in an ATV accident last December as he was rushing home to check on her.    

Fighting cancer and losing her dear husband

While building their retirement dream home in Wilhoit, AZ, Ginger discovered she had cancer.  The treatments didn't go well, so she chose hospice to make the most of her remaining time.  Pete and Ginger spent six months in their dream home before his tragic accident.  Not only did she lose the love of her life but she also lost her only family caregiver as well.  Shortly after Peter's death, she had to put their 16-year-old dog to sleep. Her hospice team has rallied around her to support and care for her.    Her niece has invited her to move in with her, but the challenge is to get her out to New York. 

Servant's Heart owners Jim and Lori Haubrick offer a trip of a lifetime

Ginger's medical condition makes her unable to fly or take the train.  Jim and Lori Haubrick, owners of Servant’s Heart, a Prescott Valley medical transportation company,  have agreed to take on this amazing cross-country journey with Ginger.  Our Good Samaritan Hospice team is incredibly grateful and wants to make sure Ginger's Wish comes true by raising the funds she needs to go by stretcher van to live her remaining days with her niece and near childhood friends. 

Thank you for helping us make Ginger’s Wish come true by supporting her final wish to move in with family in New York.

(Photos below of Ginger and Peter in their earlier days!)
Ginger said she was Pete's "Pit Crew" as they traveled by motorcycle and enjoyed the adventure riding Pete loved. 

 A quilt made from all of Pete's motorcycle t-shirts.

Pete and Ginger on a motorcycle adventure


Pete's dad and grandfather were firefighters too.