The Magic of Hospice

March 2026

Kit has been a Nurse Practitioner at the Windsor Cancer Program since 2006, and in her nearly 25 years of experience, she has had thousands of cancer patient and family interactions. Even with a wealth of knowledge on the topic of cancer…when a diagnosis comes to call on a member of your own family, it is just as devastating of an experience.

“We lost my Mom to cancer more than 14 years ago, and with the support of an amazing palliative care team, my Mom chose to stay at home,” says Kit. At that time, Kit’s Mom gathered family around her, and asked her sister, Cindy, Kit’s aunt, to “take care of Kit and the girls.”

Ever since, Cindy had done exactly that. “Cindy became everything to us – a second mother, and Nana to my girls. We spent so much time together – we were Thelma & Louise, aunt and niece, always off on another adventure together.”

Unfortunately, a few years ago, Cindy was also diagnosed with cancer. Although she underwent treatment and made strides, the cancer returned.   

“In late 2024, we began to notice a significant decrease in her quality of life,” says Kit. “I had always been a very close part of her primary support system, and I knew it was time to talk. She wanted to discuss her care plan and we needed her to feel free to choose what really mattered to her.”

Shortly afterward, Cindy was hospitalized with a serious event and the decision was made for her to go to The Hospice, Erie Shores Campus. “At the time, Cindy was not the happiest about the decision,” says Kit. “She wasn’t ready. Not that she was against being cared for at Hospice, but she still had plans! I knew it was the right decision, but I could see that she was not settled and still struggling with the transition. We needed the ‘magic of Hospice’ to kick in – to restore Cindy to her usual positive self and give her some peace.”

And, just as hoped, shortly after Cindy’s arrival, the magic of Hospice did kick in! Cindy was a patient at the Erie Shores Campus for 11 weeks, and over that time she trusted the amazing team of staff and volunteers and allowed them to be her full-time caregivers, which in turn allowed her family to be exactly that – her family.

“It can be personally challenging to be part of the medical profession in this situation,” explains Kit. “You want to stay out of the way, stay in your own lane – but it’s hard to let go! I am so grateful to the Hospice team – especially Dr. Burgess – who never made me feel that I was over-stepping. They talked through everything with us and not only sought out input and suggestions – but appreciated them. They knew that all we really wanted was the very best for Aunt Cindy and we worked so closely together to do just that!”

Cindy passed on March 13^th, 2024 at just 71 years old.

“Aunt Cindy and I had often spoken of our shared belief that our loved ones sent back various signs that they were still with us – we believed our sightings of hummingbirds and cardinals were from my Mom. I told Cindy that she would have to send me two signs, so I would know it was both her and my Mom. The day she passed, my husband and I took our dog for a walk on the Greenway Trail. Not long into our walk, we ran into two of the Hospice volunteers who had cared for Cindy at the Erie Shores Campus. Even my skeptical husband was convinced that these two ladies were symbolic of my Mom and my Aunt Cindy – together again!”

Memorable care with a dash of Hospice Magic – that’s just The Hospice Way.