Our Clients Say It Best

Beyond the Distance
Patricia and David Eby

Jan, 2019

Patricia and David Eby enjoyed a beautiful marriage filled with love. They both shared a passion for teaching; Patricia was an avid reader and reading teacher, while David enjoyed music and teaching music theory. As the years passed, both Patricia and David began experiencing health issues.

Patricia’s health greatly declined, and she began treatment with hospice. She became bed bound but remained alert and oriented. With the support from family, David remained at home until his health required additional care, and he was transferred to a facility in Kalamazoo. While there his condition progressed, and he had to be transferred to a geri-psychiatric unit in Indianapolis. During his treatment there he fell and suffered a fractured leg, causing him to be hospitalized. Unfortunately, he was unable to fully regain his strength and his dementia worsened. As his condition progressed it was clear that he could not return home and would need continuous specialized care. Still miles from his beloved wife, David was transferred to a South Haven nursing and rehabilitation center.

During these four months Patricia was unable to visit with David due to her hospice diagnosis and her own specialized care needs. To help lift Patricia’s spirits, her care team planned a trip to visit David. 

Patricia’s care team, along with the help of Van’s Medical Equipment, and the South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation facility, arranged a special visit for her to travel by stretcher to South Haven. She was able to lie comfortably in David’s bed while he relaxed in a wheelchair and specialty recliner provided by Van's. Together, with their adult children, the three-hour visit provided time for their family to reconnect and share precious memories.

Three weeks after Patricia’s visit with her husband, he was moved home to receive hospice treatment and to be with Patricia. He arrived home on a Monday and died that Friday. During this time his family was comforted that he was able to have a special visit while he was the nursing home and to return home for his final days.

After fifty-nine years of marriage, he preceded her in death less than two months earlier on July 20, 2018. Patricia died in her residence in the comfort of her family’s presence on September 16, 2018.