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Suncoast Pasco News

Letters to the editor, Nov. 4

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FROM OUR READERS

Published: November 4, 2009

A privilege

Editor:

As the holidays approach, many of us will gather with family and friends. Often, these gatherings include memories about loved ones, sharing of funny family stories and traditions that have been honored year after year. This emphasis on remembrance, so welcomed during joyful times, plays an important role in difficult times, especially at the end of life.

November is National Hospice-Palliative Care Month and in Pasco County, residents are fortunate to have two hospices from which to choose when faced with a life-limiting illness. HPH Hospice, formerly known as Hernando-Pasco Hospice, has been serving the community for 25 years. Gulfside Regional Hospice has been caring for our residents for 20 years. Both provide care to patients regardless of their ability to pay, a benefit that is extremely important during these tough economic times.

We would like to thank our generous donors for their support, whether through a memorial donation, supporting an event or shopping at one of our thrift stores.

Studies have shown that, when faced with a life-limiting illness, most people are more concerned about the impact that it will have on their family, not themselves. By focusing on the individual, not the illness, Gulfside Regional Hospice and HPH Hospice share a commitment to upholding the dignity of every person regardless of age, health or social status. We also fully recognize that every stage of human life deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and care.

Collectively, HPH Hospice and Gulfside Regional Hospice served more than 5,000 Pasco residents in 2008 and their combined corps of 1,300 trained volunteers gave more than 267,684 hours of dedicated service and made 17,105 patient visits. Our organizations' staff and volunteers understand that every person they care for is a unique individual with a lifetime of experiences, relationships and gifts to share. While our jobs are not easy, they are a privilege. GRH and HPH's teams consider caring for someone at the end of life one of the highest honors, and do all they can to ensure that the wishes of their patients and loved ones are upheld.

Linda Ward and Tom Barb

The writers, respectively, are president and CEO of Gulfside Regional Hospice and president and CEO of HPH Hospice.

Another voice

Editor:

I'm glad to see that besides Rich Lowry, this newspaper has decided to listen to its readers and become more to the middle by including conservative voices as well as liberal.

Attilio Corbo

Palm Harbor

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