Breaking down walls - brick by brick.

Sam Donovan had always been a man of resilience and grit. As a Marine who had served three tours in Afghanistan during the early 2000s, he was no stranger to hardship and loss. Sam had seen things that most people couldn't imagine, and he had lost many friends during his time at war. Each loss had left a scar on his heart, but he carried on, driven by a sense of duty and loyalty to his country and comrades.

Returning to his small hometown in West Virginia after his military service, Sam found it difficult to adjust to civilian life. The bustling streets and everyday concerns of his neighbors seemed trivial compared to the life-and-death situations he had faced. He jumped from job to job, working as a mechanic, a construction worker, and even a school janitor at one point. None of these roles fulfilled him, but they kept him busy and helped him keep the haunting memories at bay.

Sam's dream was simple yet profound: he wanted to buy a plot of land, build a modest house, and spend his old age sitting comfortably on his porch, watching the sunset over the Appalachian Mountains. He had saved diligently, each dollar representing a step closer to his peaceful retirement. But life, with its unpredictable turns, had other plans for Sam.

The mission of providing an exceptional end-of-life experience to all who choose hospice is critical.

Understanding the unique differences between the general public and our United States Veterans is essential.

Here’s an End of Life Resource Handbook for Veterans produced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, released by the Veterans Health Administration Northern California Health Care System.

Resources, phone numbers, contact names, and more.

The diagnosis came like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Pancreatic cancer, stage four. The doctor’s words seemed to echo in the sterile room, bouncing off the cold, white walls. Sam sat in stunned silence, his mind struggling to process the news. He was given three to six months to live, a timeline that felt both unreal and brutally immediate. The possibility of treatment was discussed, but Sam decided against it. The fight had drained out of him; he had no more battles left to win.

Anger surged through Sam like wildfire. He was angry at the world, at his body for betraying him, and at the dreams that would never be realized. Hospice care was arranged, but the transition was anything but smooth. Sam’s hospice team, led by a compassionate nurse named Karen, faced an uphill battle. Sam’s anger was palpable, a barrier that seemed impossible to breach.

Karen had seen anger in many forms throughout her career, but Sam's was different. It was the anger of a man who had given everything and felt cheated at the end. The usual methods of comfort and care did little to ease his rage. He refused to talk about his feelings, dismissing every attempt to engage him with a curt nod or a sharp retort.

Determined to help Sam find some semblance of peace, Karen and her team brainstormed alternative approaches. They understood Sam’s anger was a mask for deeper emotions—grief, fear, and a profound sense of loss. Karen decided to reach out to a local veterans' group, hoping that camaraderie with fellow soldiers might provide the connection Sam so desperately needed.

HVP - Hospice-Veteran Partnerships

What are Hospice-Veteran Partnerships?

Hospice-Veteran Partnerships (HVP) are coalitions of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, community hospices, State Hospice Organizations, and others working together to ensure that excellent care at the end of life is available for our nation’s Veterans and their families. These coalitions may be community-based or statewide and may function independently or within an existing structure. HVP is a national program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospice and Palliative Care Initiative.

Here’s additional information on We Honor Veterans.

Here’s a link to We Honor Veterans Hospice Veteran Partnership Poster.

One crisp autumn morning, Karen arrived at Sam’s modest home with two veterans in tow. They were men who had also served in Afghanistan and understood the unique burdens Sam carried. Initially, Sam was standoffish, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the newcomers with suspicion. But as they shared their own stories of loss and survival, a flicker of recognition appeared in Sam's eyes.

Over the next few weeks, the veterans visited regularly, slowly chipping away at the walls Sam had built around himself. They talked about their experiences, their struggles with adjusting to civilian life, and the comrades they had lost. Sam began to open up, sharing stories he had never spoken aloud before. The anger that had consumed him started to dissipate, replaced by a sense of kinship and understanding.

Karen also introduced art therapy, a suggestion from a colleague. Though skeptical at first, Sam found unexpected solace in painting. He started with simple landscapes, gradually pouring his emotions onto the canvas. Each stroke of the brush became a release, a way to articulate the feelings he had buried deep inside.

One day, as Sam sat on his porch, Karen joined him, holding a small box. Inside was a collection of letters from the community—neighbors, former colleagues, and friends he had made over the years. They had written to express their gratitude, to share memories, and to offer support. As Sam read each letter, tears filled his eyes. He had always felt like an outsider, but now he realized how much he had touched the lives around him.

Art Therapy for Veterans

Did you know: The Department of Veteran Affairs has provided free therapeutic arts and crafts kits to hospitalized and homebound veterans for generations. Here’s a link to an article explaining how the VA Northport is doing: Creative Arts Therapy - Promoting Health and Community for Veterans.

As the weeks turned into months, Sam’s health declined, but his spirit found a measure of peace. The porch he had dreamed of became his sanctuary. He spent his days there, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and the warmth of human connection. The anger that once defined his final days had transformed into a quiet acceptance.

Sam passed away one serene winter morning, with Karen and his veteran friends by his side. His journey had been fraught with pain and anger, but in the end, he found a way to let go. The hospice team, through their unwavering dedication and innovative care, had helped Sam reclaim his humanity and dignity in his final moments.

Sam Donovan’s story is a testament to the power of compassion, understanding, and the human spirit’s resilience. Though his dream of a peaceful old age on his porch was cut short, he found solace in the connections he made and the love that surrounded him. In the end, he was not alone, and that made all the difference.

Servicing veterans represents something different for hospices. 

There’s a great article by Holly Vossel in the July 26, 2024 issue of Hospice News titled, “Hospices Strategize Sustainable Growth for Veteran Programs.” 

Highly recommend it.

On the latest episode of At The Bedside Podcast, Gina Norton, mentions art therapy with one of her veteran hospice patients. Download the pod so you can listen to it on your daily drive.

Until next time.