Frances Pickel had been steadfastly battling stage IV cancer for five years, continuing to work and never letting on how sick she really was. Her son, Dave Pickel, always held hope in the back of his mind that at the last minute divine intervention would save her. But in May, at age 65, Frances’ intense pain brought her back to CVMC for one last time. As the family made the difficult decision about where she should spend her final days, they toured the Sun Room, the new palliative care suite at CVMC.
The suite, dedicated in July to Dr. Marilyn Hart and Dr. John Valentine for their compassionate efforts to enhance end-of-life care, was made possible by a donation from Lynne and Don Carpenter. It has a light-filled sun room, gathering area and a kitchenette for patients and families. Dave and his family decided this room would be the best option for their mom.
“She was an amazing woman. We wanted her to be comfortable and we wanted to be with her,” Dave said. “I can tell you it made the best of a bad situation. At the end of my mom’s life, it allowed us as a family to be together for one last time. The kitchen gave us a separate space for visitors and we could soak up the sun in the sun room and try to feel better in our hearts. It allowed us to feel at home.”
The CVMC palliative care team, which includes three interdisciplinary practitioners (a part-time chaplain, palliative care nurse, and palliative care physician), manages comfort care at the hospital and offers physician-led consults for patients and families Monday through Friday. They provide hospital-based care emphasizing symptom management, as well as care for the emotional and spiritual needs of patients with serious illnesses. Work includes teaching in both the hospital and community.
"We have an incredible foundation for compassionate palliative and spiritual care at CVMC, embodied in the pioneering work of Lynne Carpenter, Marilyn Hart, John Valentine, Linda Piatrowski and others. What an honor it is to follow in their footsteps,” said Dr. Jonna Goulding, medical director of palliative care.
“No one expresses gratitude for excellent palliative care at CVMC like the patients and families who stay in the Sun Room. Families tell us daily of their appreciation for the skilled and kind nursing care they receive, and the calm and comfortable environment in which they receive that care. The Sun Room embodies the generosity of our pioneers and benefactors, who continue to teach, and reach out, to patients and families in our community, who are going through one of the most challenging stages of life.”