Our stories about meaningful experiences are written as they unfold. Therefore, most stories are in the present tense. Some of the patients in these stories are no longer with us. They, and their families, gave us permission to share their experience with you. For those who have since passed, we share these in their memories with deep appreciation for what they have taught us about life and living.
Jeannie Strong is a talented and creative woman with a heart for service. She helped her husband, former Richmond, Ky., Mayor Bill Strong, serve his community for decades as a city commissioner, a magistrate, and mayor. In her life away from public service, she put her creativity to work.
Jeannie’s creative touch extends to nearly everything around her: growing flowers and vegetables, upholstery, sewing, and endless crafts.
Her walls are draped with aprons she made from vintage material. She has steamer trunks
Jeannie with her daughter and some of her beautiful, hand-made stockings.
filled with pictures of blue ribbons she’s won at the Madison County Fair over the years.
So, nine months ago, when she was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer and given a prognosis of one year to live, Jeannie responded in typical fashion. She wanted to work through it with her hands—to put them to use on a special project.
Jeannie’s immediate wish was to make every single person in her family a Christmas stocking before she dies.
When she came to Hospice Care Plus, the team saw right away that this project was very important to her. They saw the beautiful fabrics Jeannie was working with to make the stockings: burlap, ribbons, even an old mink stole that belonged to her mother. But they also knew that it was about much more than fabric, or even the stockings themselves.
Jeannie shows her Hospice Care Plus nurse, Junie, one of her vintage aprons.
Jeannie Strong was working on her legacy.
The hospice team knew its job was to make sure Jeannie continued to feel well enough to finish the project. So, together, they dealt with pain and symptom management so Jeannie could continue sewing stockings.
Every day, Jeannie walked down her narrow basement stairs and made more progress. She was admitted to Hospice Care Plus in October. By January, Jeannie was finished with every last one.
But, she wasn’t done yet. Her next project is a quilt for her newest great-grandchild.
Jeannie with husband Bill Strong.
When that’s finished and Jeannie turns to her next project, we’ll be by her side the whole way, making sure she feels as well as she can for as long as possible. Because, as hospice care staff, we know that fine-tuning one’s legacy is a top wish for patients. We also know that, in order for peace and quality of life to truly win the day, those wishes must be met.
How can you honor life during National Hospice & Palliative Care Month? Visit the #WeHonorLife campaign page to learn about all the ways you can help, from volunteering and shopping to helping us increase access to specialized care for the seriously ill and their families. Questions? Contact us at hospice@hospicecp.org or 859-986-1500 or visit our website.
Hospice Care Plus empowers those we serve to enjoy the highest quality of life, respecting their values, beliefs, needs, and goals through specialized care, education, resources, and grief support.
Our Service Area:
Our Home Hospice and Home Palliative Care programs serve you, wherever you call home, in the Kentucky counties of Estill, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Owsley, and Rockcastle.
Our inpatient care facility, the Compassionate Care Center, and administrative offices are located in Richmond, Kentucky.
Recent News:
News & Events
Hee Haw Hoedown a Huge Success!
The Hee Haw Hoedown, held at the Estill County Fair Barn, had a record-setting night on Aug. 13. The event raises funds for Hospice Care Plus and is organized by a local committee. This is the fourteenth year the committee has hosted the fundraiser, which features a different theme each year. Committee member Erin Leach…
Grants Fund New Cargo Van
With the help of matching grants totaling $30,000 from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) and the E.O. Robinson Mountain Fund, Hospice Care Plus added a gently used cargo van to its medical equipment program. The van is used to deliver equipment to the homes of hospice patients and families in all counties served…
Noodle Nirvana Donates $34,000
Noodle Nirvana, Berea’s fast-casual restaurant featuring homemade, Thai-inspired noodle bowls, has announced it raised $34,000 for Hospice Care Plus. “Noodle Nirvana and its owners, staff, and customers are remarkable for what they have done for non-profits in our community. We are grateful, inspired, and ready to put the donation to work to care for patients and…
World Lung Cancer Day, Aug. 1
According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States. Kentucky has the highest occurrence of new cases in the country. Even though Kentucky ranks second in the nation in screening people at high risk for lung cancer, it still has the highest death rate. Why? Dr.…