Hospice care provides comfort at the end-of-life. It includes relieving physical, emotional and spiritual pain that comes with terminal illness, so life may be enjoyed as much as possible. Hospice care also includes guidance and support for families and caregivers.
Ginnie’s Story – Family Time Possible with Suncoast Hospice Care
A family in flight – Ginnie Van Kesteren and her two sisters were taught the old school way to fly airplanes, no coddling. They grew up on a field with an airstrip owned by their parents. The couple was accomplished at piloting and racing and shared their passion with their daughters.
“We’ve had a lot of adventures and opportunities because of aviation. My parents were always going, always moving,” Ginnie said.
Ginnie’s parents were deeply in love and married for 67 years. Last year, life turned turbulently when Ginnie’s mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Suncoast Hospice provided care at her home before she died. Several years ago, the organization cared for Ginnie’s 45-year-old middle sister, Deb, who died from breast cancer.
With both experiences, Ginnie and her family felt uplifting support and relief with Suncoast Hospice there.
“I found comfort in talking with our Suncoast Hospice team nurses during my sister’s illness. It helped me so much to deal with my emotions. And when Suncoast Hospice arrived to care for my mother, we were immediately reassured by their calmness and competence. They explained things to us. We didn’t have to think about anything except being there for her,” she said.
That precious time at her mother’s bedside was incredible. “At the very end we were around her bed, which was situated in front of a big window in their place on the building’s 27th floor. It’s as if they were flying and he was talking her down from a rough flight saying, ‘You know you’ve gone through some rough weather and there are blue skies ahead.”
If you need care or know someone who does, we are here to help.
Request services now or call us at (727) HOSPICE | 467-7423.