PEOPLE THINK THEY WILL DIE-IN
HIS PISS.
Anchor: HAPPY HOSPICE, IS
IT TRUE?
HOW ONE LOCAL WOMAN AND ONE
LOCAL HOSPICE CENTER TRIES TO
MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
Anchor: IT IS A FASCINATING
STORY.
WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD
HOSPICE CARE MANY REACT WITH
TEARS.
FEAR.
AND JUST SADNESS.
Anchor: IT CAN BE TOUGH.
BUT AS KAREN DREW SHOWS US THAT
DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE
CASE.
Reporter: YOU ARE ABOUT TO
MEET 59-YEAR-OLD KATHLEEN
MACNIS, BODY MAY BE BREAKING
DOWN BUT NOT THE SPIRIT.
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF HER
ATTITUDE AND THE WAY THAT SHE
HAS HANDLED HOSPICE WE SHARE HER
STORY.
BAG PIPES ECHO THROUGH THE HALLS
OF ANNGELA HOSPICE IN LIVONIA.
TODAY KATHLEEN'S ROOM WAS FILLED
WITH FAMILY.
AND ALSO FILLED WITH
YOU SEE KATHLEEN IS TAKING A
DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HOSPICE.
THE 59-YEAR-OLD IS HAVING
PARTIES IN HER ROOM.
GATHERINGS OF FAMILY AND
FRIENDS.
AND BRINGING HAPPINESS TO THE
HALLS OF ANNGELA HOSPICE IN
LIVONIA.
WHILE THE END MAY BE NEAR.
IT IS HARD TO TELL.
KATHLEEN IS EXUDEING SO MUCH JOY
AND LOVE.
KATHLEEN WORKED AS A LEGAL
ASSISTANT UNTIL SHE GOT SICK IN
NOVEMBER OF 2012.
AND DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR
LARYNGEAL CANCER.
CHEMO.
RADIATION, CANCER IS BACK.
NEXT LARN NEXT, VOICE BOX,
THYROID AND PART OF THE
ESOPHAGUS REMOVED.
THEN CAME HERE TO ANNGELA
HOSPICE IN JANUARY OF THIS
GETTING THE NEWS SHE HAD
STAGE FOUR LARYNGEAL CANCER,
DEVASTATING.
STILL IS HONESTLY.
Reporter: THAT IS A TYPICAL
REACTION.
WHEN SHE WAS TO COME FROM
REHAB TO HOSPICE IT SEEMED LIKE
IT WOULD BE SO FINAL.
IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ANY TIME.
Reporter: WHAT IS NOT SO
TYPICAL IS HOW KATHLEEN IS
REACTING.
HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND PARTY
PLANNING IS SPILLING OVER TO
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND OTHERS THAT ARE IN HOSPICE.
KATIE'S STORY TODAY REALLY
ILLUSTRATED THE POINT OF HOW
THERE IS STILL A LIFE TO LIVE.
AND THERE IS SO MUCH THAT A
PERSON CAN DO.
AND THAT HOSPICE CAN BE A
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND TO
LIVE A JOYFUL ENRICHING LIFE.
IF ANYTHING THAT HAS TAUGHT
ME MORE THAN ANYTHING TO
CELEBRATE EVERY DAY THAT YOU
GET.
Reporter: KATHLEEN HAS
LEARNED HOSPICE IS A
TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
NOT THE END JUST A TRANSITION
UNTIL THEN THE BAG PIPES,
CELEBRATIONS AND THE FAMILY
PARTIES WILL CONTINUE AT ANNGELA
HOSPICE.
AND NOT ONLY DOES KATHLEEN TEACH
HER FAMILY HOW TO LIVE BUT HOW
TO DIE.
KATHLEEN IS DOING AS WELL AS
EXPECTED.
AND AS SHE IS NO LONGER
RECEIVING ANY TREATMENTS.
AND ANNGELA HOSPICE SAID HER
PRESENCE AT THE FACILITY HAS
TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW
OTHERS SEE HOSPICE.
AND FOR THAT THEY ARE FOREVER
GRATEFUL.
KAREN DREW LOCAL 4 NEWS.
Anchor: TOUCHING STORY.
IT IS.
YOU KNOW MAY NOT BE THE WAY FOR
EVERYONE.