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Show December 2001 Senior Section Page 13 Ike aDD the days of your life VisfisiQiir GRANT AND FAWN BOSWORTH Grant Bosworth has led a very exciting life. In fact, he graduated from Oxford -Oxford Elementary School in Idaho, that is. He went on to work in the radio industry as a technician and disc jockey while his wife taught school. Now, many years later, he and his wife Fawn live in a mobile home in American Fork. They have six children, 30 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Their home is small and cozy, decorated for Christmas and smells like baked bread. When asked what he wants for Christmas, Grant said "roller blades." Grant and his wife seem like any other happily married couple of 50 years except for one thing - Grant is a hospice patient. It started when they were living liv-ing in Hurricane, Utah. Grant began to have problems after being diagnosed with prostate cancer and then macular degeneration. degener-ation. Then he began having chest pain and was told he had a leaky heart valve. Due to his age and condition, he was not a candidate for surgery. Several years and doctor visits later, the Bosworths had moved to American Fork, and it was Fawns turn to be ill. She spent several days in the hospital in critical condition herself, and recovered to return home and help take care of Grant. After a visit to the emergency room last summer, Grant's doctor referred him to VistaCare Hospice Since then, the Bosworths have become an important part of the VistaCare family. They love and are loved by the many staff members mem-bers who visit regularly. Leann, Grant's nurse, visits to check his heart rate and monitor his oxygen saturation. Ron, the social worker, work-er, has given them information to help Grant complete a living will. Paul, the chaplain, visits to discuss dis-cuss spiritual issues the Bosworths are facing. And clearly one of the favoirites is Sharon Palmer. She is the volunteer coordinator coor-dinator for VistaCare and knows the family well. In fact, she and her volunteers built a wheelchair ramp at the Bosworths' home with assistance from the VistaCare Foundation. This makes it easier for Fawn to get him to doctors' appointments and, when he feels well enough, church. (This, he jokes, is why he wants the roller blades). Before hospice care was involved, Grant's bed was propped up on blocks to make it easier for him to breathe. Now, in addition to a hospital bed, he also has a wheelchair and portable oxygen so he can get around. Hospice also pays for the cardiac medications that Grant needs to stay comfortable. comfort-able. And, although his . wife is still 'able to help him with his bathi the time is coming when they will need when they will need a home health aide because Grant passes out on occasion. Fortunately the services provided by VistaCare can be increased as Grant's needs increase. Paint The Perfect Retirement Picture. r-i i i r t I i i i - i i i I; 1- If you could paint the ideal picture of retirement living, this would be it. Everything is in place. You can enjoy a full range of activity program. Your aifi ra'jit mo::. hly i t Jit :i! includes three '::..;;-oaily '::..;;-oaily meal?. housekeeping ar.d linen i 4 RET I RE MEST LIVISG services, paid utilities, free transportation, on-site Resident Managers, and much more. Spacious studios," one-and two-hedroom apartrr!t-"".t-: are :;vai';tbh ami : ;;)'! alt;;!' ior your cmp''Ht"ftaH." lunch ".;. I ;.;r. We li hell i '-i'.! ereatv the perfect retirement. r I I" z Center St 1 8 A a. I" I W 325 West Center Street - ' S Orem, Utah 84057 1j- I 2. (801)224-8044 H-Jjr sj 1 1 The Bosworths are very grateful grate-ful to have hospice in their lives. "Hospice has been very good," Fawn said. "The minute Icall for anything, they take care of it." When asked their opinion, the VistaCare staff is just as happy to be involved with Grant and Fawn. "They are a darling couple," Palmer said. "They are so much fun to be around." GLADYS AND DICK BRIGGS Gladys, and Dick Briggs met when they were 9 years old. Their families owned ranches that were 25 miles apart, and the two became friends. They went together togeth-er off and on for several years. Now, 61 years of marriage later, they have four children, 17 grandchildren grand-children and 17 great-grandchildren. It hasn't always been easy. The Briggs' home is filled with momen-tos momen-tos of their ranching days. They raised cattle and sheep in Montana with Dick's three brothers broth-ers and their wives, then retired to Kalispell. They moved into the basement of their daughter's home in Orem about 13 years ago - an ideal situation for tending grandchildren grand-children and living happily ever after. However, their golden years have become complicated because of health problems. After having had spine surgery twice, a heart attack, a stroke and having been bedridden much of last year, Gladys was referred to hospice by her physician. Gladys was in the hospital when a VistaCare representative came to visit. "I don't know what we'd have done if VistaCare hadn't come," she said. Now she and Dick have plenty of help (and visitors). They keep Gladys comfortable with oxygen, a wheelchair and a walker. They see their nurse, Rachel, on a regular basis. A home health aide, Darlene, comes to help Gladys shower. Gladys said, "I want to tell you, I just love Darlene. She never misses a thing. If she sees my sheets need to be changed, she does it." Sharon Palmer, the volunteer coordinator, visits with Gladys and helps prepare a meal or two while Dick runs errands. It is obvious obvi-ous that the VistaCare staff en joys their time with the Briggs as much as Dick and Gladys. Everyone is treated like family. Dick said, "I haven't met anyone from VistaCare that I don't think is special." When asked what then-favorite then-favorite thing about hospice ha-been, ha-been, Gladys replied, "1 think i: - all been wonderful. They have helped in so many ways." Dick added, "I don't think I'd have got ten along without them." ... -Mi$izyctoK - Si . Kf i - X if, w, - - 1 p. a Tr : i" 0f$xt-, I v f 1. t ? ? .1 Golden Choice Buffet A iM irr 4i Ol ! Family - Style Golden Corral Resiaurcnts Specialize In The Golden Choice Buffet, The Biggest & Best Bullet Available Anywhere All You Can Eat Lunch And Dinner r lcm 225 w- f I University Parkway fefeBw Orem 225-6299 I |