Each year Hospice of Chenango County profiles patients so the public has a keener understanding of the end of life care provided to those in our community. We’d like to share a few of these stories before our Annual Dinner & Silent Auction coming up on Nov. 3. If you would like information about the event call the Hospice office at 334-3556 or visit the agency’s website at www.hospicecheango.org.

The Story of Evelyn Johnson
Everyone should have daughters like Carol and Gayle and a daughter in law like Linda. The women are dedicated to caring for their Mom Evelyn Johnson as she slips deeper into a world of confusion. “We promised my parents that we would always take care of them so they wouldn’t have to go to a nursing home,” explains Gayle. And these are women of their word.
Today Evelyn is only partially aware of her surroundings. “She has lucid moments when she can communicate with us,” says Gayle. “But most of her time is spent in the past. I try to get her to reminisce about relatives I didn’t know because I want to hear all the family stories before it’s too late and they’re lost forever.”
Evelyn married at twenty and had three children before her husband Sam was shipped off to fight in World War II. Sadly, he died on a German battlefield leaving Evelyn with a heap of responsibility. She had no choice but to go to work at a nearby plastics factory to make ends meet. In 1946, romance re-entered her Evelyn’s life in the person of Murray Johnson. He was a Cornell man and classmate of Evelyn’s brother. Murray and Evelyn married and went on to have two children of their own. Their blended family now was complete.
“My Mom was pretty traditional,” says Gayle. “She was an easy going, happy person who was content to stay home and take care of her family.” The Johnsons lived a typical middle class life in Afton launching their five children into adulthood. After Murray retired the couple got to travel a bit. “They really liked spending time at country music festivals,” says Gayle. However, retirement was cut short when Murray had a deadly heart attack leaving Evelyn a widow for the second time in her life at age 65.
Unfortunately, loss was the dark thread that ran through the fabric of Evelyn’s life. Not only did she bury two husbands, but three of five children as well; two in separate car accidents, and one from illness. Gail says her mother coped with these crushing blows “by bracing herself and just moving on, but it was certainly her faith in Christ which got her through the pain. Anyone who knew my Mother knew that she gave the Lord all the credit.”
Gayle first moved in with Evelyn for companionship before the role changed to caregiver. “I first noticed Mom had some memory issues about ten years ago,” says Gayle. “Later on she fought lung cancer. But her biggest decline has come in the last few weeks. Her breathing is worse and she needs oxygen more often now.”
When Gayle was referred to Hospice she didn’t hesitate for a second. “I can’t see any reason why anyone wouldn’t want the help.” she says, puzzled. A Hospice LPN visits every weekday to help Evelyn get up, bathed and dressed; while an RN visits at least once a week to do a thorough exam and a Social Worker, and our Chaplain provide emotional and spiritual support.
Like so many adult children today, Gayle and Carol are facing a role reversal in middle age. First, parent takes care of child, and then child takes care of parent. Gayle and Carol are hopeful that with Hospice’s help they’ll be able to keep the solemn promise they made to their Mother and keep her at home until she passes. Gayle and Carol are promise keepers. Evelyn died peacefully on April 16th with her family by her side.