Our Stories - Life is Precious

Weathering the Storm

Mar, 2016

Severe weather can be worrisome for many people. We may wonder, "Will I lose power?" "Will I be able to stay warm and comfortable in my home?" "Do I have enough supplies?" and "Where will I go if I need to evacuate?" For those dependent on machines to help them breathe, these worries are amplified.

Recently, a hospice client on a ventilator lost power in his home when a winter storm moved through the area. With only an eight-hour battery life on his ventilator, his family was worried that the machine would lose power before the electricity came back on. Both he and his family wanted to remain home during the outage, but they needed help to ensure that his needs could be met.

A Hospice at Home social worker put out a call for assistance to Hospice at Home team members, asking for a generator to provide power for the home. A nurse, GeorgeStroba, was able to offer assistance after a call to his aunt and uncle, who were happy to loan their commercial generator to the man and his family. Not only could the generator support the ventilator, but it had enough power to heat the client's home. That evening, George gathered a group of people to help transport and connect the 300 pound generator to the house.

Because of George's quick actions, this hospice client was able to breathe easy knowing that his ventilator would continue to work and that he and his family could remain comfortable in their own home while they weathered the storm.