A terminal diagnosis for a family member is devastating for the patient and the family. It’s even more heartbreaking when there is no chance to say goodbye. Sherri Stinson, Christopher Rud, and Jimmy Oden each suffered tragic family losses without final goodbyes. Those experiences led to a partnership that resulted in the opening of Hospice Services of SC.
“Because of our shared experiences we understand the importance of a good goodbye and we’re committed to providing quality of life for the patient and the family,” said Stinson, who is also the administrator of the facility.
Their services which include patient care, administering medication, and providing nutrition information are provided in the patient’s home, in assisted living facilities, or at nursing homes. When the time comes, grief counseling and prayer also play a role in making the transition a peaceful journey for everyone involved, including children.
“Kids often process grief differently,” Stinson said. “They may be playing outside, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting on the inside. That’s why we offer Kids Cry Too.”
Children who’ve experienced the loss of a loved one receive grief counseling and express their feelings through art. These so-called “mini-camps” are hosted at Hospice Services of SC offices located at 233 West Avenue in North Augusta. The children who have experienced a loss can ask questions in a secure environment and draw pictures that express their feelings.
Stinson knows both sides of loss and grief. Her brother died at 40 and left behind a 7-year-old daughter. The morning she was taking her niece for grief counseling, Stinson’s own 29-year-old son was killed in a car accident.
“That’s why this is a calling and why a goodbye is so important,” Stinson said. “It offers closure. Hospice can prepare families for grief.”
Hospice Services of SC is locally owned and operated but is a spinoff of Hospice Services of GA. Future plans involve expanding to other areas of the CSRA.
“When we opened in North Augusta, we saw a need and filled it,” Stinson said. “We will go wherever God leads us.”
For more information, call 803-599-5137 or visit them on Facebook. Their website is under construction; however, Hospice Services of GA offers the same services.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means!
If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
