Everyone who works atHospice of East Texas,staff and volunteers alike,has heard this comment,“I don’t know how you doit. It must be so sad.”

The truth is that, yes, there aremany sad moments, but thereare also moments of suchsweetness and even momentsof unspeakable joy. Our workhere is like life itself, a mixtureof pain and sadness, balancedby moments of joy andeven celebration.

Two days before Christmas, we admitteda young woman to hospice care, tooyoung to be dying of terminal cancer,too young to be leaving a two-year-olddaughter. Adding to that unimaginabletragedy were her family’s circumstances:a disabled husband, desperate poverty, ahome that was more a shed than a housefit for people, cold weather, no coats, herlittle girl without a pair of shoes that fit.Certainly, there was no Christmas either,nor even the thought of one.

But then, as they always do, the peopleof Hospice of East Texas went into action.They called their coworkers, their friendsand neighbors. They dug deep into theirown pockets. The necessities, food andcash and shoes and coats, started piling

up, and so did the fun things, stuffedanimals, candy, silly little girl treasures.Already on a tight holiday schedule,with lots of work and their own familiesto take care of, staff and volunteersstayed late, worked the phones, wentout of their way to pick up donations.A Hospice of East Texas medicalequipment van became Santa’s sleigh,delivering comfort and joy to a familywho had no expectation of either.

Yes, there is sadness and tragedy in thework we do at Hospice, no doubt aboutit. There was nothing good about thisyoung woman’s situation. But the peopleof Hospice of East Texas were there forthem, and continued to be, not just atChristmas but in the months to follow,working to smooth and balance theirtragedy with comfort and kindnessand generosity.

We can do that because of your support.For thirty five years, generous friendsin our communities have upheld ourmission, making sure that Hospice ofEast Texas was here to help families likethis and thousands of others. Because ofyou, we can provide our unique brand ofextraordinary end-of-life care to everyonewho needs it. And because of you,we can go above and beyond whencircumstances call for it, creating a littlejoy to balance the sadness, sharingsome good to smooth the bad.

Spring 2018

Sometimes you don’t know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

HOSPICE OF EAST TEXAS

So much sadness... and so much kindness

Because of you,we can provideour unique brandof extraordinaryend-of-life careto everyone whoneeds it.

“

”

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Rickey McClenton’s godfather wrote in his high schoolyearbook, “What you do for the Lord will last.” Rickeydidn’t like that one bit. “Everyone else was getting ‘thefuture is yours!,’ things like that! What was he thinking?”questioned Rickey.

Turns out, Rickey’s godfather’s words were prophetic. Foryears, Rickey, now known as Missionary Rickey, has beenserving the Lord in lasting ways with many gestures ofkindness and encouragement. For his service as a volunteerto the patients and families of Hospice of East Texas,Rickey was recognized at the 2017 Annual Meeting inFebruary of 2018.

Every Sunday morning and every holiday, Rickey comesto HomePlace, Hospice of East Texas’ inpatient facility,and makes rounds with the snack cart. The cart is filledwith snacks and cookies and crackers, water and soda,all free for families and visitors, welcome treats to thosewho may have been at their loved one’s bedside for daysat a time. Along with the treats, Rickey delivers his specialbrand of cheer and comfort, telling families he is prayingfor them, hugging when it’s appropriate, always smiling.

Rickey also serves Hospice patients at home, often visitingthree or four patients each week, and once a month hedelivers a BIG home-cooked meal to the family kitchenat HomePlace.

Rickey’s service to Hospice of East Texas is just the tip of hismissions’ iceberg. The blessings of his service, encouragement,prayer and food touch hundreds of lives each month, notjust in Tyler, but all across the United States.

“My godfather also told me, ‘God has great things in storefor you. He will bless you,’” said Rickey. “And He has!”Hospice of East Texas has also been blessed by Rickey’scaring servant’s heart, and we are deeply grateful to be inhis mission field.

What you dofor the Lord will last.

A Servant’s Heart

Visit Hospice of East Texas’Facebook page to see a video ofRickey McClenton in action!

Graduating in 1968 from Wichita GeneralHospital School of Nursing, a three yearRN diploma program at the hospital inWichita Falls, Texas, Joyce lived in thenurses’ dormitory under the closesupervision of a house mother. Sheremembers white caps, sharpeningneedles, sterilizing syringes to use overand over again.

Joyce’s first nursing job was in pediatrics,and now, fifty years later, she reflects thatshe has come “full circle,” working inend-of-life care as a Field Mentor andHome Care nurse for Hospice of East Texas.

In the years in-between Joyce has donemed-surg nursing, been a housesupervisor, and an assistant directorof nursing. She served as director ofnursing in a hospital for twenty oneyears. Ten years ago, she joined the staffof Hospice of East Texas.

As a Home Care nurse, Joyce spends herdays visiting her hospice patients in theirhomes, in nursing homes and in assistedliving facilities. She treasures the closerelationships and friendships she developswith patients and their families. “I alwaystell them, ‘I’m not a boss. I’m part of a teamthat will help you in your final days. Ipromise to be here for you and to doanything I can to make these days ascomfortable and joyful as possible.’”For Joyce, this work, these relationships,are a privilege, one she’s not ready togive up just yet.

“I love this work,” Joyce asserts, thoughshe acknowledges that it can be difficult,mentally, physically and emotionally.“I put 2,400 miles on my car every month,traveling to see my patients. The timebehind that windshield is actually goodfor me. I think. I pray. I recharge so that Ican be my best for the next family I visit.”

“My rule is to treatpeople the way Iwant to be treated,”Joyce says. “Deathwill come for all ofus. It doesn’t matterhow much moneywe have or what wehave accomplishedin life. I hope there will be someone therefor me when my time comes.”

For Joyce, there are so many memoriesfrom her years as a hospice nurse, but onestands out in particular. Her patient was ahoarder, in a horrible living situation. “Ofcourse, all of us – nurses, social workers,physicians, volunteers – we all wanted to‘fix it’, move the patient to someplace better,but that was her home and that’s where shewanted to stay. She died peacefully in herhome, just as she wanted. She died withdignity. Every human being deserves that.”

If Joyce could change one thing about herwork, it would be that families call forhospice care sooner. “There are so manymisconceptions about hospice,” she says.“We do NOT hasten death! Our team canbring so much peace and comfort topatients and to their families, but we needtime to do that. You know, the strangething is that so often my patients are ready.They know it’s their time. It’s their familieswho aren’t there yet. Part of my job is tohelp them acknowledge the reality, helpthem say good-bye.”

Joyce adds, “A patient once told me,‘Hospice is half-way to heaven!’ I believethat. With the support and care of thehospice team, our patients can stay intheir own homes, and pass to the nextlife surrounded by the people they love.When the time comes, doesn’t thatsound like heaven to you?”

A Golden Anniversary

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2018 is Joyce Story’s professional golden anniversary.She has been a nurse for 50 years!

We take one final opportunity to thank everyonewho made 2017’s year-long celebration of Hospiceof East Texas’ 35th birthday a resounding success.

The Thirty-fifth Birthday theme resounded throughthe year with celebrations throughout the region,culminating in a BIG, and we mean BIG birthdayparty on October 5, with almost 600 friends andsupporters joining us for the occasion.

YOUR financial support helped raise an amazing$675,000 which will go to offset the cost ofunfunded care for hospice patients with no Medicare

or private insurance.

2017’s milestone birthdaymerited joyous celebration,and it was also an occasionfor renewal and commitmentto excellence in the future. We concluded this bigbirthday year committed to our legacy, our unmatchedcare and compassion, our “above and beyond” programsand services and our commitment to care for all whoneed us. With YOU, our friends, donors and supporters,we look forward to the next 35 years!

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Almost 600 friends, donors and community leaders joined Hospice of East Texasat the Thirty-fifth birthday celebration on October 5, 2017.

East Texas Giving Day and Volunteer Appreciation events followed the birthday themein 2017. A birthday celebration of nonprofit hospice

care in Nacogdoches honored Dr. LarryWalker for his many years of service as ahospice physician.

Pictured left to right:Ann Campbell, RN

Christine Alden, RN;Jessica Henderson, LBSW

Dr. Larry Walker, Hospice PhysicianTravis Clardy, Texas State Rep.

Patti Goodrum, Director of LoveIn the Name of Christ

Robin Kirk, RNSally Jones, RN

HOSPICE OF EAST TEXAS

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Hospice of East Texas’

35th Birthday...What a Year 2017 was!

Celebrations

As a part of Hospice of East Texas’ 35th birthday celebration, three volunteers werehonored for an extraordinary achievement... thirty five years of consecutive serviceEACH as a volunteer for Hospice of East Texas. Individually and collectively, theyhave made an indelible mark on our organization, and left their heart prints in thelives of literally thousands of patients and families.

PAULA BATES was a member of the Junior League ofTyler when the idea of creating a hospice in East Texaswas first discussed in the early eighties. Through theyears she has served as a board member, board chair,fundraising volunteer, direct patient volunteer andshe continues to serve as a front desk volunteer atHomePlace. “I love Hospice,” Paula says. “It’s beenmy love for a long, long time.”

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RICK JETT, CPA, didn’t actually start out to be aHospice of East Texas volunteer. In 1982, his boss“volunteered” him to help the fledgling organizationcreate an accounting system. Soon Rick was immersedin the hospice mission and devoted to its work. Forthirty five years, Rick has served Hospice of East Texasas a board member, board chair, ex-officio boardmember and committee member. His deep institutionalmemory spans the years from a $100,000 annual budgetto an $18 million one, and his commitment to ourmission is unmatched.

MAUDEAN WEST went through the very first volunteertraining course offered by Hospice of East Texas, and forthe next thirty five years she served as a direct care patientvolunteer until her retirement this fall. Maudean’s specialcalling has been visiting patients in nursing homes, thoseoften neglected and forgotten by others. Week in andweek out, Maudean visited two or three patients, herpresence a reminder that there was someone who stillcared. Maudean’s own words about her volunteerexperience are an inspiration to us all:

“You know, my favorite patients were the ones who werein nursing homes, in a coma, not responsive at all. Theywere so alone. No one came to visit most of the timeexcept me, and I don’t think most of the time they knewI was even there. But I would just sit, and hold theirhands and sometimes talk, and sometimes read theBible to them. And when the nurses would tell me itwas about to be the end, I would get real close to theirear and I would say the 23rd Psalm to them. It wasalways my going away present. I wanted the last thingthey heard to be the Lord’s word.”

C E L E B R AT I N G

These precious girls have many thingsin common, their adorable smiles andblond hair, both are six year old firstgraders, and this: both of their fathersrecently died unexpectedly.

At the Hospice of East Texas’ WINGSday camp for grieving children, thegirls became fast friends, workingtogether throughout the day on varioustherapeutic craft activities includingmaking these “grief monsters.” Ourworkshops, support groups and daycamps create opportunities for grievingchildren to meet friends facing similarcircumstances and learn ways to dealwith their loss in an age-appropriate way.

No child should ever have to grieve alone.

At this year’s East Texas Giving Day, Hospice of East Texaswill highlight the work of WINGS. This unique programoffers support groups, Camp 3G and one-on-one counselingsessions for children and teens impacted by the loss of aparent, grandparent, sibling, friend, even a beloved pet.

Join us on East Texas Giving Day, Tuesday April 24th, toplay WINGS Bingo and raise funds for this very specialprogram. WINGS is offered not only to families served byHospice of East Texas but to anyone in the community,all free of charge.

Your donations to help us “black out” our WINGS Bingoboard on East Texas Giving Day will make sure that nochild will have to grieve alone.

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WINGSNo child should ever have to grieve alone.

A Special Opportunity to Give

There are so many misconceptions abouthospice, and one of them is that all hospicesare somehow connected, like chaptersof the same organization. Actually, inEast Texas, there are more than 25hospices, and we are not connected inany way organizationally. Only twohospices, including Hospice of East Texas,are nonprofits. The others are for-profitbusinesses, with profits from theiroperations going to their shareholders.

Being a nonprofit means that Hospice ofEast Texas is owned by you, our community,and it means that we invest, not in ourshareholders, but in the care we provide.As a nonprofit, we are committed to caringfor anyone who seeks our care, regardlessof their financial situation, which is

an enormous human and financialcommitment. We are also committedto providing an extraordinary brand ofend-of-life care, unique to Hospice ofEast Texas and uniquely nonprofit.

For thirty five years, YOUR support hasbeen the backbone of our comprehensive,compassionate care, and it is critical toour ability to continue our mission inthe constant change of today’s healthcareclimate. Quite simply, we couldn’t do thiswork without YOU! Hospice of East Texasis mission-driven and community-focusedbecause of YOU! THANK YOU!

Marji ReamPresident/CEO

Being a Nonprofit Matters!

If you own an IRA and are at least 70 1/2years of age, the law requires you totake a minimum distribution from yourIRA each year and pay income tax on thedistribution.

If you want to support Hospice of EastTexas, you may now do so through a giftthat will satisfy this minimum incomedistribution and not be counted astaxable income.

You can give all or part of the distributionfrom your IRA to Hospice of East Texas,tax-free, and have it count as all or partof your required minimum distributionfor the year.

Consult with your professional advisor

or call us at Hospice of East Texas to seeif these benefits might be helpful to you:

• The amount of your gift is countedtowards your required minimumdistribution for the year.

• The amount of your gift is excludedfrom your reported income for federaltax purposes – your gift is 100% tax free!

• Most importantly – your gift may beused immediately to support Hospiceof East Texas’ patients and their families.

Contact Nancy Lamar, Vice Presidentof Community Relations, for moreinformation: 903-266-3402nlamar@hospiceofeasttexas.org.

Take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover today!

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A Letter From Marji

$CHARITABLE

ROLLOVER

Jeb JonesChairman

Scott MyersVice Chairman

Bob RosemanTreasurer

Kristen SeeberSecretary

Nancy AbernathyPrice ArredondoBob BondurantGillian Brasfield

Garnett BrookshireShelley Brophy

Tom BrownRev. Ralph Caraway

Twinkle DuncanSherry Dunn

Jonna FitzgeraldJohnna Fullen

Rev. Reginald GarrettEddie Howard

Rick Jett (Ex-Officio)Jim Mazzu

Milton McGee, Jr.Jason ProctorPeggy Smith

Linda ThomasKasha Williams

Joseph Woelkers

HOSPICE OF EAST TEXAS

2018 Board of Directors

Dawn FranksChairman

Robert BailesChairman-Elect

Rick RayfordTreasurer

Craig AdamsSecretary

Rick Allen, ex-officioBobby Curtis

Bob DyerSharon HowellBob Hughes

Rick Jett (Ex-Officio)Jeb JonesNeal Katz

Mel LoveladyDavid NelsonRick Rayford

Marjorie Ream (Ex-Officio)Whit Riter

HOSPICE OF EAST TEXAS FOUNDATION

2018 Board of Directors

Marjorie Ream, RN, MNPresident/CEO

Tom Beets, MDMedical Director

Linda Navarro, CPACompliance Officer

Christi BaggettVice President of Operations and Innovation

Nancy Lamar, MSSWVice President of Community Relations

Shaune Martinez, MSHRDVice President of People and Finance

Kristy Morris, RN, BSN, CHPNVice President of Clinical Affairs

Wes Bynum, BS, ChpDirector of Care Support

Jennifer Brashear, RNDirector of Outpatient Care

Amy Everett, RN, BSNDirector of Access and Marketing

Carol Hemken, RN, BSN, CHPPNDirector of Inpatient Care

Jessica Henderson, LBSWDirector of Operations – Nacogdoches

Kurt Lorenz, PharmDDirector of Pharmacy

HOSPICE OF EAST TEXAS

2018 Leadership Team

4111 University BlvdTyler, Texas 75701

903-266-3400 | 800-777-9860

Non ProfitUS Postage

P A I DTyler, Texas

Permit No. 130

Newsletter Editor • Nancy LamarNewsletter Design • Autry Design

Contributor • Wendy Frizzell

If you would prefer not to receive mailings from Hospice of East TexasFoundation, please email us at wfrizzell@hospiceofeasttexas.org

or call us at 903.266.3400 ext 140 (1.800.777.9860.)