Our Stories - Life is Precious

Angels Among Us
Angie Sulzer

Jun, 2015

Angie Sulzer, 39, has been courageously fighting breast cancer for four years. It has spread throughout her body.  Angie and her husband Matt, have only been married for two years, moving from South Dakota so that he could attend Andrews University.  Recently, Matt dropped his classes so the he could focus on his wife, who is nearing the end of her life.  

Angie and Matt were hopeful that they could travel back home to South Dakota to be with family for Christmas.  Lately, Angie’s pain has been very difficult to control, needing constant attention; this made the couple worry about not being able to make the trip.

Two members of Angie’s Palliative Care team, Tami and Allison, offered to make the trip alongside Angie and Matt.  They would take Angie’s medications with them and manage her pain symptoms during the trip. Linda Beushausen, RN, CEO of Hospice at Home, enthusiastically supported this request.  

Now the question was – how do we get everyone there?  

After several attempts, it was determined that flying was not going to be a workable option.  Not to be defeated easily, Tami continued to search for a way to get Angie and Matt home.  A generous soul appeared, offering an RV and driver, AND to add to the small miracle, covered all expenses from Michigan to South Dakota and back!  This man knew what it felt like to watch helplessly while a spouse was ill; he could relate to the fear they were experiencing and wanted to do something special. On December 12, everyone packed up and started the trip to South Dakota.

Angie and Matt were gracious, loving and very appreciative to the team who made this trip home a reality.  Everyone involved felt that it was a gift to serve Angie and Matt and to do whatever they could to help.  
 
These are the ways Hospice at Home makes a difference, the way we do what we can to make sure that our patients lives are precious……our angels without wings literally going the extra mile.