"Between May 2005 and November 2007 I lost both my parents. If it was not for the support and care of hospice, I truly believe my personal recovery would have been severely limited.

My dad was sick for many years, but in February 2008, after having several setbacks his doctor diagnosed him as terminally ill, and he was placed in your loving care.

I couldn’t believe the attention and care he received at your inpatient unit. My dad had his own room, which reminded me of being in someone’s home. The nurses and aides and staff gave him dignity and were diligent in meeting his every physical need. So much impressed me about your facility, but one thing in particular stood out. My father was raised in the Jewish faith, and loved the music of his heritage. I don’t remember her name, but one of your members on staff would go to each room with a harp and play the most beautiful music. She did not know any “Yiddish” music, but my mother gave her some info, and she did the research. The next day she was there playing the music with her harp. Although at this point my dad couldn’t speak, as soon as she played, he made sounds and moved his head. Mom and I just knew he heard the music and it touched his soul.

As I live in NYC, I didn’t continue counseling with your bereavement program. But, my mother did. She couldn’t wait to go to the weekly bereavement group to share with others and said one of her goals is to become a volunteer when her mourning period of a year had passed. She just loved what you did for my dad, and how you were helping her move forward with her life. After my dad passed, we stayed with him in the room and it was just a memory filled with so much love and warmth – being at your facility, with your amazing staff and feeling the love and compassion from everyone – receptionist to nurse to – aide – to volunteer.

Six months after my dad’s passing, my mom had minor surgery on a kidney stone. Complications ensued; she spent five months in ICU fighting for her life and managed to survive. From there she was in a nursing home to rehabilitate and than back to the hospital when infection after infection would hit her. After a year and a half of fighting to live she finally had enough. She decided if the next surgery she was undertaking did not help; she would return to the nursing home and have Casa de la Luz take care of her until her transition. She went back to the nursing home but under the care your Hospice. Your nurse came to the facility and immediately changed her medications and was adamant about making sure my mother was pain free (she was still in pain and not getting enough pain medicine to ease the discomfort). Finally my mother was able to sleep, pain free. The next morning when I came to see her, she was sleeping so peacefully, I couldn’t believe it!

After my mom’s passing, your office staff continued to call me and be there for me – available 24/7. Since I was going back to NY, Meg from bereavement made sure that I was connected to a Hospice in NYC to administer the same loving service you provided. I have seen a counselor weekly, who is a blessing in every way. However, it is just not the same as your staff. There is something uniquely special about all of you.

How can I thank you or begin to put into words the gratitude I feel? You gave and continue to give me solace, understanding, love, compassion and unconditional kindness at the hardest time of my life. You gave both my parents the dignity and respect that most of the health care profession was not able to provide. When I think of what an angel or what an angelic presence feels like, Casa de la Luz comes to mind. After my dad passed, my mom would go to your facility and sit on a bench and enjoy the quiet and beauty of the garden. I am waiting for the next six months to pass, so I can train to do volunteer work at a hospice and give to others, the gift I was given by all of you.

Bless you from the bottom of my heart."

With love and gratitude,

—  Terri Kravetz