Conversations With a Hospice Nurse

Life… it’s really amazing, isn’t it? We are faced with challenges from the moment of birth until our deaths. Some challenges are just part of the natural order, like learning to walk and talk. Illness and death are also part of that natural order. In between, we experience joy, sadness, love, freedom, learning, friendship, spirituality, loss, and grief. The list goes on. This is where we learn who we are—where we write our story.

Sometimes our challenges are confusing, and we don’t really know what to do or where to turn. Sometimes it is just nice to have someone to talk to and be able to ask questions and get some answers.

It’s funny that, in general, people don’t have difficulty talking about their lives and making plans, yet there is very little discussion about the end of life. It is almost universal—people have great difficulty talking about the end of life, and it is funny in a sense because it is the one thing that is certain—at some point we will all die.

This is almost tragic because fear prevents us from having the conversations that will guide us in making the best decisions that will allow us to live our lives to the fullest. Are you struggling with some questions around your health, your best living arrangements, or having certain tests or procedures? Do you have a family member, friend, neighbor, or person in your congregation who is struggling with these questions?

You are invited to attend an informal group for conversations about these topics. The Retreat House at Hillsboro offers a quiet, friendly atmosphere where you can sense the Holy Spirit at work among us. Have a cup of tea or coffee and something sweet to eat, then join the conversation. We are in a safe space to ask our questions and learn from each other. 

Dot Mayorga, RN, a former hospice nurse, will guide the conversation and answer questions. She has had 10 years of experience working with people with terminal illnesses and their families. She has seen firsthand the difference it makes when those involved are brave enough to have the conversations and, conversely, the added burden placed on the group when no planning took place.

REGISTER HERE:  https://tinyurl.com/hospicenurseconverstions. For more information, please email heather@retreathousehillsboro.org