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Hope. Healing. Harmony.
Hope.
Healing.
Harmony.
A harvest celebration of all that Hospice means and can be is the theme of the Ninth Annual "An Evening for Hospice" Sunday, Nov. 5.
Harvest decorations straight from Nana's Garden on the outskirts of Culbertson will transform the Community Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in time for a close-up look at the auction items and hor 'doeuvres by Sehnert's at 5:30 p.m., while the Christner family musicians provide a musical backdrop.
Speakers will include Jonathan Krutz of Lincoln, beginning at 7 p.m. Krutz is the executive director of Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership. He will provide a brief history and overview of hospice and will be followed by Cathy Nichols, RN, the clinical nurse manager for Hospice and Home Health. The final speaker is Terry Peterson of McCook. Peterson's wife, Donna , succumbed to cancer in 2004, and he will share how hospice has helped him to accept his loss and to move on with his life.
"Hospice not only addresses the issue of dying with dignity," said Terry Shipshock, executive director of the Community Hospital Health Foundation. "It's about family, faith and grief." Shipshock has personal experience as part her foundation in hospice, losing a 33-year-old niece to a three year battle with cancer in 2003. "Hospice made it possible, first, for us to accept what my niece already knew, and then for healing to come through our grief."
The hope is for lessening the pain and suffering. The healing is for family members in knowing their loved ones are cared for.
And the harmony is between healthcare providers, individuals and communities.
Each of these components combine to accomplish the mission of hospice providers, "to walk side-by-side with patients to offer assistance, not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually, at the end of life.
Following Peterson's presentation, world champion auctioneer Joe Frazier and ringman, Cal Siegfried will take center stage for the auction, offering a wide variety of packages in a tradition unique to Evening for Hospice.
Among the offerings for this year's auction are a signed fiddle from country music icon Charlie Daniels. The fiddle, donated by the McCook High School Class of 1971, includes a letter of authenticity.
The Heartfelt Heirlooms package contains a 1930s reproduction queen size heirloom quilt, pieced together by members of the Piecemakers Quilt Guild. Bison fans will compete financially for the rights to a football signed by the members of the 2006 Bison players. That package, titled "Mighty Bison" also features a fleece-lined jacket from McCook Lettering, canvas chairs from JL Construction, a cup of Bison 45 from Joltin' Joes and complimentary athletic pass to the 2007-08 season.
The cure for "Husker Fever" includes tickets to a Husker home game during the 2007 season, a $100 Visa gift card, stadium blanket and Bushnell binoculars, courtesy of Wells Fargo Bank.
Closer to home, the trained specialists at Renalle's Classic Hair Design will provide a two-hour day at the spa, complete with a custom facial, herbology body treatment, hot stone treatment and a manicure and pedicure.
Sun City West, Arizona waits for those who weary of winter wind with four complimentary rounds of golf at Hillcrest Golf Club and two grandstand tickets to Phoenix International Raceway where Dick and Bonnie Loper will take the winning bidders to the Raceway Club Hospitality Tent to hear the Nascar drivers and enjoy refreshments. A bonafide McCookite Barbecue with George and Peggy Pearson completes the deal.
Other packages are "Smokin' on the Plains," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "It's all Relative," "Kansas City, Here we Come," "Lied the Way," Self Indulgence," and "Picture Perfect."
And new this year is a silent auction on a variety of packages, including porcelain Native American Dolls and a six-month membership at Body Connection.
"We changed the venue this year, hoping to see even more people attend this notable event," said Shipshock. "Hospice serves some 35-40 clients each year and this event goes a long way toward providing the necessary resources."
Funds raised go to direct client care, staff training and support materials.
Tickets are $30 and are available at the Community Hospital Health Foundation office, 801 West C, (308) 345-7222.