By: Mary Whittaker M.A., LCMHCA Back to Basics: Foundations of Self-Care Whether you are at the very beginning of your grief journey or at a stressful place further down the road, we can easily forget our most basic needs. Often, we are full of emotions, possibly exhausted and feeling out of control and lost in our grief. We tend to focus on what we feel we "need" to do or "should" do. There are no "shoulds" when it comes to grief; and on a basic level, there are only a few things we truly need to do. Taking time to slow down and focus on our basic needs can help center us. We need food, water, sleep/rest. Additionally, by giving yourself grace, you give yourself safety and comfort. Sleep: Sometimes our minds become consumed with thoughts and memories, making it difficult to find rest. Establishing a bedtime routine, creating a calming environment, and practicing relaxation techniques can help improve sleep quality. Some people find phone apps for sleep helpful in providing relaxation prior to sleep. If these techniques do not work, a VIA Health counselor can provide strategies for managing intrusive thoughts and promoting restful sleep. Nutrition: Fueling your body and mind in times of grief is critical, and eating habits can fluctuate. Some may experience a loss of appetite while others may turn to food for comfort. Check in with yourself. Are you nourishing your body with healthy foods or are you skipping meals or eating but still not giving yourself enough nourishment? Also, are you drinking enough water? Again, we become distracted and forget about this basic need. Giving Yourself Grace: Practicing self-compassion involves treating yourself with kindness, patience, and understanding, especially during difficult times. Allow yourself space to grieve in your own way and at your own pace, honoring your unique process of healing. Incorporating self-care practices into your daily routine can provide stability and solace as you navigate the complexities of grief. By prioritizing sleep, nutrition, hydration, and self-compassion, you can cultivate a path to resilience. If you feel the need for additional support, please reach out to one of our trusted counselors. For more information, call us anytime at 833.839.1113 or send us a message at www.viahp.org/contact-form. You are not alone. We listen. We support. We care.

By: Kerstin McMillian M.A., LCMHCA Self-Acceptance: A Mindful Gift How often, gentle reader, have you told yourself, “I just have to accept this loss, let go, so that I can move on,” only to find that the more you will yourself to let go and move on, the more you can’t stop thinking about what you have lost? Acceptance became a place to be in the Five Stages of Grief by Dr. Kübler-Ross. It makes for a very convenient endpoint of a grief journey, like the last piece of a puzzle fitting neatly into the picture. Everything makes sense, and the work is finished. However, what if we have this backwards? What if acceptance is both the beginning and the end of a grief journey? Better yet, what if acceptance is an action that you, dear griever, can apply to your daily life. Allow me to explain more clearly this concept of acceptance. The type of acceptance that I am referencing is deeper and more personal than knowing something tragic happened. I am speaking of the kind of acceptance which brings about feelings of peace, understanding, self-compassion, and forgiveness. The type of acceptance that allows for your feelings to be here and to exist without shame or judgement. Allowing yourself to feel your grief, perhaps saying quietly in your mind, this belongs. This grief belongs because I lost someone I love. They mattered, and my grief matters. Turn towards your grief and welcome it into your daily life. It belongs here with you because you lost someone very near and dear to your heart. Consider your grief as a season in your life with plenty to teach you. With an open heart and mind, you may learn that you are stronger than you ever imagined. You can experience and witness this great heartache. Through this process, you will learn more about your loved one and more about yourself and your own needs for healing. Your tears and fatigue do not mean you are weak or dishonoring your loved one. These are the courageous marks of a person who loved and lost; a person who is continuing to cherish their loved one while building a new and different life. Why is it important to accept and allow yourself to grieve? We have a saying in therapy, what you resist, persists. Resisting the urge to cry, shout, sleep, and grieve will only result in even stronger feelings and urges. Give yourself the gift of accepting yourself exactly as you are by saying, “this belongs.” This is one consistent gift you can give yourself no matter where you are in your grieving journey: mindful acceptance of yourself without judgement or shame. Wherever you are in your grief journey is exactly where you are supposed to be. If you feel the need for additional support, please reach out to one of our trusted counselors. For more information, call us anytime at 833.839.1113 or send us a message at www.viahp.org/contact-form. You are not alone. We listen. We support. We care.

SHELBY, NC – VIA Health Partners, founded as Hospice Cleveland County, announced a donation from the Delores “Dee” Hamrick Turner family to name the Wendover Hospice House Nurse Station. Mrs. Turner’s children - Tommy Hamrick, Steve Hamrick, and Susan Hamrick Floyd - made the gift to honor their mother who is now under hospice care with VIA Health Partners. A long-time resident of Cleveland County, Mrs. Turner cared for and mentored many people in her life both young and old. Although she was not a nurse by trade, she welcomed many family members into her home to live as long as necessary. “Her home embodied the same tender spirit as the care she’s now receiving from the VIA Health Partners team,” said Tommy Hamrick. The family decided naming the nurses’ station at the Wendover Hospice House would be a perfect way to honor their mother and help further the mission of one of her favorite organizations. The new station will be called the Delores “Dee” Hamrick Turner Nurse Station. The family said, “We are thankful for the opportunity to help VIA Health Partners continue to provide comfort and peace to individuals and their respective families at life’s most difficult time.” Peter Brunnick, a Shelby native and President/CEO of VIA Health Partners, said “Gifts like this one from the Hamrick family represent a direct investment in our ability to care for anyone who needs us, regardless of medical complexity or ability to pay. Our Wendover Hospice House is an important community asset, and we are thrilled to set the Hamrick’s gift to good work.” VIA Health Partners offers hospice and palliative services spanning 35 counties across North and South Carolina. The VIA Health Partners Cleveland County office serves as the hub of the Western Region which includes Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, and Polk counties. About VIA Health Partners VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, and was incorporated in 1978. Later, Hospice at Charlotte operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) for decades before changing its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. In Fall 2020, Hospice Cleveland County and HPCCR merged. Today, VIA Health Partners serves over 3,500 patients on any given day through its hospice and palliative services. For more information, visit www.viahp.org.

Charlotte, N.C., October 17, 2023 - On Saturday morning, October 14, campers and staff gathered on the banks of beautiful Lake Wylie at Camp Thunderbird to take part in the 24th annual Chameleon’s Journey Grief Camp, a program of VIA Health Partners, formerly known as Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region. Launched in 2000, Chameleon’s Journey exists to provide healing, comfort, and care for children and students ages 7 to 17 in a therapeutic environment following a death, either through hospice or as a community referral. The program is one of just three overnight grief camps located in the Southeast and is staffed by clinical personnel including medical social workers, licensed professional counselors, healthcare chaplains, death doulas, music therapists, and community volunteers. Since its inception, the cost to attend camp has been generously covered by donors throughout the region, VIA Health Partners and community foundations including Giving with Grace, the Checkers Foundation, and Claire Bear’s Fund. While campers rotate through a series of activities and therapeutic interventions including drumming, group work, and movement/breathing techniques like Tai Chi, they are also invited to take part in a service project with the intent of giving back amid their own personal loss. With this year’s theme of “Grief Around the World,” campers partnered with Meals of Hope, centered in Southwest Florida, to fight the hunger epidemic and address food inequity in our own backyard, both through education and a justice-centered activity. According to public health research, about 15% of households in Mecklenburg County struggle with food insecurity, driven mostly by poverty and an increased cost of living. It is also estimated that 1 in 5 children in Mecklenburg County lives in poverty. On October 16, a day known as World Food Day as established by member countries of the United Nations, Chameleon’s Journey delivered over 1,400 pounds of food packed by campers, or 10,000 meals, to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina to be distributed within a 22-county service area - a geographic region that is a part of the 32 counties served by VIA Health Partners for hospice and palliative care. Campers are challenged to experience service as a way of honoring their loved ones, recognizing power in their ability to respond while telling the stories of legacy, grace and love that have made them who they are today because of the ways they have been seen and valued. In the act of giving, they are growing both as mourners and as human beings desiring to speak hope into a hurting world. To learn more about Chameleon’s Journey or VIA Health Partners, visit www.chameleonsjourney.org or www.viahp.org. About VIA Health Partners VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, in 1978 and then operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) for decades before its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. Today VIA Health Partners serves 3,500 patients each day for hospice and palliative care services. Our service area encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina--Burke, Catawba, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union. Its service area in South Carolina includes Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties.

Ms. McGinnis, CEO of Hospice Cleveland County, Retires After 33 Years of Dedicated Service Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 6, 2023 – VIA Health Partners – Cleveland County, founded as Hospice Cleveland County, announces the retirement of long-time leader Myra McGinnis. Ms. McGinnis began her career with Hospice Cleveland County in February of 1990 and was named CEO in 1994. Over her 33-year tenure, Ms. McGinnis played a crucial role in the organization’s growth and the delivery of exceptional end-of-life care. Since 1994, Hospice Cleveland County has served over 16,000 hospice patients at home and in other settings. When McGinnis joined Hospice Cleveland County in 1990, the organization had 12 employees and fewer than 25 patients. Today, it serves nearly 190 hospice patients daily and employs over 130 workers. Says McGinnis, “My greatest sense of accomplishment comes from having created much greater access to hospice care for people in our community, and generating meaningful job opportunities that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.” Under McGinnis’s leadership, the Wendover Hospice House, one of the first hospice houses in the state, opened in 1996 and underwent two expansions. In 2010, the Testa Family Hospice House in Kings Mountain was established. Together, these facilities have provided peace and comfort to more than 5,000 individuals in their final days. In 2004, Hospice Cleveland County pioneered the provision of palliative care services for individuals with serious illnesses who are not yet eligible for hospice care. Currently, the organization serves over 400 palliative care patients daily. “It has been my honor to lead Hospice Cleveland County, now VIA Health Partners, for the last three decades. Despite the increasing complexity of healthcare, the essence of hospice care remains the same. Immensely compassionate hospice professionals, with great expertise in end-of-life care, are fully present with hospice patients and their loved ones during their end-of-lie life journey. It is sacred work carried out by extraordinary people, and I have been privileged to work with them.” Throughout her career, McGinnis received numerous prestigious awards, including the Peter Keese Award from the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care, the Bridge Builder Award from the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce, and the Cleveland County Athena Leadership Award, which recognizes women leaders. She is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator and a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. In 2018, McGinnis and the Hospice Cleveland County Board began a multi-year assessment of the future of hospice care, which led to a merger with Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, North Carolina’s first and largest non-profit hospice. Says McGinnis, “It became apparent that Hospice Cleveland County would need a strong, reliable, and like-minded non-profit partner to navigate impending changes facing all hospices. Selecting Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region as our partner was an easy choice. Further, I had known and respected their president and CEO, Peter Brunnick, for many years, and our organizations had successfully worked together on initiatives that allowed us to develop trust with each other.” “Bigger is not always better,” notes McGinnis. “However, being part of a larger organization with the talent and resources to face an unexpected pandemic, navigate a national nursing shortage, compete against for profit hospices, adapt to a myriad of regulatory changes, and survive increased reimbursement scrutiny allows us to continue to grow, prosper, and serve people in our community who need our care.” The organizations merged on November 18, 2020, and the combined entity, recently rebranded as VIA Health Partners, now serves approximately 1,400 hospice patients daily across 32 counties in North and South Carolina. “The word via means to travel by way of. The name VIA Health Partners emphasizes the organization’s commitment to walking with patients and their loved ones as they travel through their final months. It also emphasizes our role as a partner to their healthcare providers, including their primary care physician. What it does not do is limit us to one geographical area, including just Cleveland County,” commented McGinnis. “I feel fortunate to have known Myra prior to the merger and had great respect for her leadership and the disciplined way she operated Hospice of Cleveland County,” said Brunnick. “She was and remains a leader who put the wellbeing of the organization above herself and crafted a vision that will sustain our Cleveland County operations well into the future.” Rachel Hill, a 13-year veteran of Hospice Cleveland County, has been appointed as the new local leader for VIA Health Partners – Cleveland County. Concludes McGinnis, “I feel confident that I am leaving Hospice Cleveland County, now VIA Health Partners, in very good hands. I have complete trust that our tradition of providing exceptional care will continue.” About VIA Health Partners VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, in 1978 and then operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) for decades before its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. Today VIA Health Partners serves 3,500 patients each day for hospice and palliative care services. Our service area encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina--Burke, Catawba, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union. Its service area in South Carolina includes Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties. Contact: Peggy Brookhouse 704.488.2753 peggy@brookhousegroup.com

Industry Veteran to Focus on Growth, Expansion and Regulatory Affairs in Evolving Health Care Landscape Charlotte, N.C. Sept. 5, 2023 – VIA Health Partners, formerly Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Forman as vice president, chief strategy officer. In this newly created role, Forman will focus on developing new markets to support the growth and expansion of VIA Health Partners. He will also work on building relationships with payers and evolving health care plans and programs, as well as play a key role in VIA Health Partners’ governmental affairs work, closely monitoring regulatory affairs at both the state and national levels. "We are delighted to welcome Dean to our organization," said Peter Brunnick, the president and CEO of VIA Health Partners. “With over 20 years of experience in hospice executive leadership, business development, and operations, Dean brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. He will undoubtedly drive our mission forward and contribute to our continued growth and success in addressing the hospice and palliative care needs of the communities we serve." Most recently, Dean served as the Chief Operating Officer at Chapters Health System in Tampa, Florida, where he played a pivotal role in driving growth and spearheading support initiatives. Prior to his time in Florida, Dean held the position of vice president of operations for the Mid-Atlantic region at Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of Maryland, where he made significant contributions to the organization's mission of addressing aging, complex chronic illness, and end-of-life concerns. Dean is widely recognized as a thought leader in the areas of risk-based payment models and the evolution of hospice and palliative care. His expertise in managing advanced chronic illness populations with better outcomes at lower costs has earned him a reputation for excellence in the field. Additionally, Dean's strategic insights into geographic expansion and growth have positioned organizations for future success and relevance. “I am thrilled to join an innovative organization like VIA Health Partners, which has an outstanding leadership team,” said Forman. “VIA Health Partners is renowned for its dedication to providing exceptional hospice and palliative care with compassion and respect. I am eager to contribute to its growth, expansion into new markets, and leadership position as a quality provider.” Forman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Management & Organizational Development from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and a Master of Business Administration from La Salle University in Philadelphia. About VIA Health Partners VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, in 1978 and then operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) for decades before its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. Today VIA Health Partners serves 3,500 patients each day for hospice and palliative care services. Our service area encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina--Burke, Catawba, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union. Its service area in South Carolina includes Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties. Contact: Peggy Brookhouse 704.488.2753 peggy@brookhousegroup.com

By Larry Dawalt, M. Div., BCC, Senior Director of Spiritual & Grief Care Services Watching the rebroadcast of ‘One Last Time - An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’ two days after his death was a reminder of just how amazing it was that he could perform like he did, not only on the occasion of his 95th birthday, but with the significant progression of his dementia which had been first diagnosed in 2016. Having spent 30 years in end-of-life care, I have been given many opportunities to see the power of music awaken memories in dementia patients. And the story of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga is a fresh reminder that music is a form of connection that families and caregivers can utilize to bring joy in the midst of progressive sadness. Describing how Tony could keep singing despite his disease, Lady Gaga told host Stephen Colbert during an appearance on The Late Show, “when jazz begins, this man lights up in a way that is such magic. It just reminded me that anybody that has a family member or somebody that they love that is suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, music is magic. Lady Gaga saw the magic vividly during the taping of the show. After Tony had performed a couple of songs, she made her entrance by saying ‘Hey Tony.’ His eyes lit up and he loudly said “LADY GAGA!” “For the first couple of weeks that I saw Tony (after) COVID, he called me sweetheart,” she told Anderson Cooper in a 60 Minutes interview. “When I walked out on that stage and he said my name, it was very special. That’s the first time that Tony said my name in a long time.” So, how does it work? Why can people remember music when they seemingly can remember little else? Why did Tony recognize her? Perhaps it was because he had been singing before she came out. A study published in The Gerontologist found that ‘singing and music listening improved mood, orientation and episodic memory as well as attention, executive function and general cognition.’ Or maybe it was because, according to an article in the scientific journal ‘Dementia & Neuropsychologia,’ music is embedded deep within. “Musical memory may be partially preserved in people with Alzheimer’s disease since musical memory involves anatomical brain networks.” The Alzheimer’s Organization website, alz.org, states that “even in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, a person may be able to tap a beat or sing lyrics to a song from childhood. Music provides a way to connect, even after verbal connection has become difficult.” I saw this vividly many years ago as my Uncle Bill and I visited my grandmother in a nursing home just a few weeks before she died. She didn’t know where she was, who I was, or who my uncle was, but on that early December night, she could utter all five verses of the Christmas carol ‘Joy to the World’ as I sang it to her. If you have a family member going through Alzheimer’s or dementia, give it a try. Hymns from early church days are popular for those who grew up in the Christian faith. Songs taught in elementary school or patriotic songs are usually easily recalled. But songs from records and the radio may also be embedded in the minds of loved ones. Try to remember what they played when they were younger, or do a search of what was, had been or was about to be popular when they were 20 years old. Healthcare workers can utilize music, whether they sing or not. Music can be played from a tablet or cell phone to create the opportunity for connection. This sometimes brings memorable moments, not only in the present moment for the patient, but in unforgettable memories for their loved ones. Watching Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga singing together made it easy to see that music can be a powerful bridge. Give it a try and see if it brings some magical moments for you and yours. For more information, call us anytime at 833.839.1113 or send us a message at www.viahp.org/contact-form. You are not alone. We listen. We support. We care.

By Larry Dawalt, M. Div., BCC, Senior Director of Spiritual & Grief Care Services Regardless of whether the child was young or if they had lived many years, bereaved parents suffer significantly. They need our sympathy, our compassion, our support and the kindness of our remembering what they are going through. It was a hot June afternoon when my last chaplain visit of the day took me to Vale, NC and the living room of a patient who had just enough energy to sit on his couch, with his wife and a young granddaughter across from him. We talked about his illness, his work history, his church affiliation and other things. His wife chimed in every now and then to help him remember details and they shared some friendly banter about who was right and who was wrong - as those in their late 70’s are sometimes prone to do. The mood was cordial, yet realistic and I did my best to help them both express what they were going through. When the wife started talking more about her life history, she mentioned her children, lastly stating that she had lost a son to cancer in the past couple of years. Her heart became heavy and her speech slowed as she said the words thousands of parents can also say - “there’s nothing worse than losing a child.” She talked about his life and what he meant to her, then seemed to stare blankly as I expressed my sympathy in the deepest terms. Her sorrow was irremovable. Bereaved Parents Awareness Month exists to provide support to parents like her, but its other purpose is to raise awareness of how many parents have suffered the loss of a child. For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of representing Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region on the board of Our Children’s Memorial Walkway, a garden at Frazier Park in Charlotte where parents can place a brick in memory of children who died too soon. Many of these parents gather formally once a year to remember their loss and comfort each other, but many also come alone at other times to sit with their grief. Regardless of whether the child was young or if they had lived many years, bereaved parents suffer significantly. They need our sympathy, our compassion, our support and the kindness of our remembering what they are going through. VIA Health Partners supports Bereaved Parents Awareness Month and we offer care to these parents through the services of our grief care department. Whether the loss was weeks, months or even years ago, our counselors will give you a listening ear and the guidance and support of their many years of experience. For more information, call us anytime at 833.839.1113 or send us a message at www.viahp.org/contact-form. You are not alone. We listen. We support. We care.

By: Jeanne Alexander, LCMHCS, NCC Grief can be overwhelming. Some describe it as swimming in a stormy sea, struggling to reach the surface and breathe. It can feel like an uncomfortable, chaotic mess. Sometimes the loss seems to run in a constant loop in the mind. To heal, it is helpful to discover ways to soothe your soul and allow you a safe place to release and let some of the pain go. It may seem easier to distract yourself from feeling the weight of your grief. Yet, allowing time to feel the feelings is critical to healing. Journaling is a helpful tool. Loss has many layers and journaling can help peel them back to discover insights into your soul. Something magic happens in journaling. The act of writing accesses your left brain, the rational and analytical part. While your left brain is occupied, your right brain is free to feel and create. Journaling allows us to create distance and perspective. This distance can free us up to become more reflective and creative. Sometimes we discover thoughts and feelings we’re unwilling to say aloud to another person, or even to ourselves. Journal writing is simply putting down from day-to-day your honest, raw, unedited feelings and insights. A grief journal helps you express feelings and provides a record over time. It can be comforting to look back and see how raw feelings of loss change and evolve over days, weeks, and months. Journaling helps make meaning of loss and can provide insights on how to live with loss and move forward one day at a time. Writing can be therapy, helping you understand your grief and yourself. It requires courage and a willingness to be vulnerable. It requires being willing to hurt more now in order to hurt less later. In journal writing, it is helpful to suspend judgment, negative self-talk and just pour out raw thoughts and feelings. There are many approaches to journal writing. You may want to try including stream of consciousness journaling, gratitude journaling, letter writing, bullet journaling or using writing prompts. There is no right way to journal; find the style that is most therapeutic for you. Talk to one of our grief counselors or search the internet to find different styles to try. As always, your grief counselors are here to support you. For information on grief counseling and support, call us anytime at 833.839.1113 or send us a message at www.viahp.org/contact-form. You are not alone. We listen. We support. We care.

By: Rebecca Tucker, Grief Counselor The summer heat is knocking on our doors with a strong reminder that yet another season is upon us. It also serves as a reminder that another season has come and gone without our loved ones. The summer always brings up memories of summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina, a treasured yearly tradition that taught me so many life lessons, allowed space for my personal growth and eventually became a place of employment in my college years. One of the skills and activities I learned while there was backpacking. The idea of setting off on a trail with everything you need strapped to your back was daunting. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I was terrified. After a few trips through various trails and terrains, I came to an understanding of what this time meant to me and how it shaped my vision of the future. As I have been working in grief, I keep coming back to the analogy of the grief journey being so much like backpacking. In the beginning, it’s as if someone drops you off at the trailhead, throws a gigantic backpack at your feet and tells you “good luck” as they speed back down the mountain and you’re left with nothing but a cloud of dust and a very heavy looking backpack. The sun is beginning to set, it’s getting cold, and suddenly you realize you’re alone in this moment - just you and this backpack; just you and your grief. Sure, you may have gone backpacking before, maybe even frequently, but this is a brand new trail and a brand new pack. Even if we have experienced grief and loss before, we have never lost this person to death. This backpack is our grief. It holds a lot of tools we might need for this journey. But we’ve never held this backpack before, never seen it, probably never even wanted to see it. We are now faced with the choice of starting our hike with this backpack or staying right where we are. We can’t go back down because that road doesn’t exist anymore. We often make the harder choice of strapping on the backpack and starting our trek up the mountain. In the beginning, the backpack is so heavy we don’t have the muscles to hold it up. But we continue because we simply can’t stay put, no matter how much easier it seems. As we continue our journey, we realize the mountain is full of roots, uneven terrain, and maybe even some spiderwebs that seem to get all over our face leaving us frustrated, tired, and gross. Our grief has a tendency of exhausting us in ways we never imagined; phone calls, thank you notes, probate and other endless tasks. But again, we drag ourselves up the mountain, lamenting the fact that we have to lug around the backpack, and that our grief just won’t go away. But a point comes where we have to look into the backpack and see just what’s in there. Why do we even need this pack in the first place? We’re hoping for a map, a cell phone, a set of car keys that might take us out of here and place us right back where we were, before we had to deal with any of this “grief stuff.” Alas, there is no such tool in there, but we do find other things that might be useful on this journey. We have a map, but it is full of twists and turns, sharp curves, massive elevation changes, and even some circles. There is also nourishment, shelter, maybe even some fun things, like a deck of cards or music. It seems counterintuitive to have things so joyful, but there’s room for all these things in our grief. As time progresses and our journey continues, we start to realize that our muscles are growing stronger, and we can carry this backpack with a little more ease. The backpack is still there; we can’t be on the mountain without it. But we become comfortable with it, like a trusted hiking companion. When we stumble over those inevitable roots, which could be those pictures that pop up on our phone or the smell of the perfume they used to wear, we are reminded how big and bulky this backpack is, and we lament again. We come back to those feelings of frustration that we’re even having to carry this thing! The difference is now our muscles are stronger, and our knowledge of grief is such that we know better each day how to be in our grief. We open up the backpack and pull out the tools we need. Maybe the tools in your grief look like talking to a friend, going for a vacation, or simply enjoying a delicious meal. We put the pack back on and keep trudging ahead. There are days where the weather is bad and we simply must stop, take shelter, and wait for it to pass. Those may be the big ones, tough days like birthdays and death anniversaries that are going to keep coming no matter what. The odd thing is, we know we can’t stop the rain, can’t stop the calendar from turning the page to a new day without our loved one, but with each passing day, each step we take on the mountain, we are becoming less afraid of what lies ahead. We may even encounter some people on the trail, fellow grief companions. They have an idea of what you’re going through, because they too have their own bulky backpack. Perhaps you walk together for a while, to not have to feel so alone out here on this trail. You know you can’t take their backpack and they can’t take yours, but how comforting it can be to know that someone understands your blisters, bruises, and battle scars from this hike. What’s inside your backpack that has helped so far? Maybe you aren’t ready to take a peek inside yet, and that’s ok. Maybe you’ve made it pretty far up the mountain and you can look back, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment on the journey thus far, knowing there is still more trail ahead. No matter where you are on your journey, may you find ease in carrying your pack and ease on this trail of grief. For information on grief counseling and support, call us anytime at 833.839.1113 or send us a message at www.viahp.org/contact-form. You are not alone. We listen. We support. We care.

Did you know that today is National Call Your Doctor Day? While the day has not yet reached ‘Hallmark status,’ it certainly raises awareness of the importance of regular medical care for those fortunate enough to have access. There are all kinds of reasons not to do it, especially for those who have fears or anxiety about what a doctor might say. But calling your doctor is one of the best gifts you can give to those who love you. In my role as a health care chaplain and grief counselor, I have heard family members say over and over how they wish their loved one would have called their doctor sooner. Anything a doctor might find is true whether you know about it or not, so please consider giving yourself and your family the gift of knowing what you need to know to maintain optimum health. "In my role as a health care Chaplain and Grief Counselor, I have heard family members say over and over how they wish their loved one would have called their doctor sooner." On the other hand, while bad news could be possible, a call to your doctor could be an opportunity to hear how well you are doing; especially if you are considering a new exercise program or undertaking a big event like running a race or embarking on a picturesque hike. Doctors want you to be healthy and they are willing to partner with you to achieve any goals you might have to improve your health. The last reason to call your doctor today would be simply to say thanks. Doctors spend years obtaining their education and their on-call hours are horrendous at times. In many ways, being a doctor is harder than ever. So, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone just to say ‘thank you- I appreciate you.’ You probably won’t get through, but leave a message. It will bring a smile to the doctor as well as the person who has the privilege of giving them the message. So… that’s it… I have to go call my doctor 😊

Rebecca Sitzes, The Shelby Star Mon, May 1, 2023 at 8:35 AM EDT - news.yahoo.com Hospice Cleveland County announced this month it will be operating under a new name and will continue serving the community as VIA Health Partners. According to a press release, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region and Hospice Cleveland County announced their official name change to VIA Health Partners to reflect their expanding mission and continued focus on delivering a unique brand of exceptional care. Over the past 45 years, HPCCR has grown through mergers and regional startup operations, serving 32 counties throughout North and South Carolina including Hospice Cleveland County. “After considerable research and deliberation, our leadership and board made the decision to move forward with the name VIA Health Partners, a name that represents both what we do and how we do it,” said President and CEO Peter Brunnick. “The word VIA, by definition, means traveling through enroute to a destination, much like we do when we walk our final journey with our patients and families. The phrase Health Partners also reflects what we do in the health-care continuum. Whether we are working with a health-care system, physicians’ practice, skilled nursing or assisted living community, our goal is to be a value add to their mission and service to patients.” The release states that VIA Health Partners will remain an independent community-based non-profit organization committed to serving all community residents regardless of ability to pay or medical complexity. VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, in 1978 and then operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region for decades before its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. Today VIA Health Partners serves 3,500 patients each day for hospice and palliative care services. Our service area encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina. For more information, visit www.viahp.org. This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Hospice Cleveland County announces name change