This is the Richmond Pavilion building at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. This is where @victoriahospicesociety lives and where my Mom began her career as a unit clerk. I know the idea of hospice can seem daunting, but this has never been a scary building to me. When my Dad was teaching me how to drive, we would practice on the weekends in the parking lot  while waiting for my Mom to get off work. Even after Mom transferred out of working in hospice and into the cardiovascular unit, we would take the odd stroll through the peaceful rooftop Hospice Memorial Garden.

When my Mom’s cancer stopped responding to chemotherapy, we spent months in and out of the hospital. It was a blur of ever-changing medications, appointments, medical jargon and dizzying worry. By the time she was transferred to @victoriahospicesociety , Mom was so relieved she could finally rest without being poked or prodded. Looking back, it is such a blessing that we had six weeks together before Mom left us. It took the hard work of an entire army of doctors, nurses, technicians, counsellors and more. It was by no means easy but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It felt like we had been climbing the largest mountain for five years and could finally sit together at the top and enjoy the view.  The hospice society gave us that time together, and helped us keep Mom comfortable enough to enjoy it. There wasn’t a single day in their care that we weren’t grateful for their never ending support.