Care and Support Stories

Laugh & Learn: Vital Healthcare Conversations at ‘Life is a Journey’ Education Series

Life is a Journey features former “SNL” star Julia Sweeney for a powerful evening of humor and education on love and loss and why having an understanding of advance care planning is vital. Learn more about this event and reserve ... read more

Hospice care team braves cold for patients

Above and beyond, the extra mile, beyond the call of duty; any way you call it, a team of JourneyCare hospice nurses, CNAs and a social worker took a big extra step for patients during the deadly polar vortex in ... read more

The gift of presence: Volunteers give over 40,000 hours of service

For eight-year-old Izzy Zundell of Chicago, weekly visits from JourneyCare volunteer Sonya Booth offer temporary respite from the progressive degenerative disorder that has left him paralyzed and facing a fatal prognosis. During her visits, Sonya cranks up the brass band, ... read more

Live intentionally and fully until the end

At a recent JourneyCare co-sponsored event, author Katy Butler gave wise counsel on how to life live to the fullest until the end. Speaking to the group of more than 350 gathered at New Trier West for the FAN - Family ... read more

Grandma’s comfort-inspired Italian chicken casserole

It’s not a cure, but Grandma Iaia’s chicken casserole is packed with traditionally comforting flavors and nutritious ingredients. Volunteer Patrick Curtin says the recipe, created by his spouse’s grandma, promises to inspire happy feelings. “The dish connects me with her nurturing ... read more

Finding out ‘why we care’: friend’s journey inspires hospice giving

A student once painted a picture of my dear friend, Nancy Olivi, who dedicated nearly 40 years of her life to teaching in Chicago Public Schools. In the portrait, Nancy’s hair is adorned with four ribbons blowing in the wind. ... read more

Taking charge: volunteers keep patients connected

During the last two weeks of her father’s life in hospice, the last thing Jenny Fitzgerald needed to worry about was charging her cell phone. It was also the last thing on her mind as she’d race to his bedside ... read more

Melissa Schmitz: ‘JourneyCare was a gift’

After months of unexplained pain and weight loss, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in early 2016. Quickly, I realized how much care he would need – there were so many medications, treatments and procedures and trips ... read more

Rita Rupert: ‘JourneyCare was the best choice’

My father, William, was a very independent man into his 80s – right until he was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of prostate cancer. With his health rapidly declining, doctors would not release him to live alone anymore. My ... read more

Help change the face of serious illness: Linda Carpenter’s story

The doctors finally told me the treatments weren’t working.After two years of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, Dad’s stage 4 renal cancer had spread to his bones and liver and his tumors were growing. These treatments were now doing more harm ... read more

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