A heart full of gratitude

On Nov. 18, my mother, Doris Bennett, passed away peacefully with me by her side. For the past several years, she suffered from Parkinson's disease and for the most part was confined to a wheelchair.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the staff at Spring Hill Health and Rehab for their tender love and care of my mother. I would like everyone to know this nursing home truly went above and beyond to ensure my mother felt like "family."

I am also thankful for hospice. They, too, have given my mother loving and compassionate care. Over the past several months, a hospice employee came by the nursing home to see my mother two times a week.

Words can never fully express my gratitude for the quality of care my mother received from hospice and especially the last two days of her life. When death was imminent, hospice provided 24-hour care to ensure my mother was comfortable and not in pain. Hospice allowed us as much time as we needed to say our final "goodbye."

My mother loved the Hospice House and all of the people who worked there. Before she became so stricken with Parkinson's, she volunteered more than 2,000 hours there. Their services provided for my mother in her final months and hours allowed her to die with the dignity she and everyone at that stage of life deserves.

This Thanksgiving, while my mother will be deeply missed, I have so much to be thankful for. Thankful that God gave me the opportunity to care for my mother for the last 15 years but mostly thankful I had her for a mom.

Diane Bennett-Rowden

Brooksville