A hospice center servicing Rowan County and other parts of the state recently helped one patient’s final wish come to fruition.

Carolina Caring’s compassionate hospice and palliative care empowers patients to make the most of each day as they navigate serious illness.

The patient, Barbara, has been under hospice care with Carolina Caring and has shared much about her life with her favorite nurse, Kelly Avery, and social worker Megan Elmore. She shared that her fondest memories were of fishing with her family on Lake Hickory. Whether from the bank or accessing her favorite fishing spots from a boat, Barbara loved it all.

After being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure, Barbara’s symptoms were getting increasingly harder to manage. She went from fishing once a week to once a month, to not having fished in more than two years.

Carolina Caring’s specialized cardiac program is designed to help manage symptoms related to heart disease so patients can continue to live their life without frequent, disruptive visits to the Emergency Department. Thanks to multiple visits a week from her expert Carolina Caring care team, Barbara was able to build the confidence to once again cast her line and enjoy the great outdoors.

Avery and Elmore coordinated with the Carolina Caring Volunteer and Foundation Departments to secure fishing licenses and gather together a spread of Barbara’s favorite foods at Dallas Park & Recreation ponds.

For just the second time in the past year, Barbara left the house. With the confidence of having her care team along to support her, Barbara enjoyed tomato sandwiches and snacks before taking her place at the water’s edge. She showed those in attendance how she ties the hook on the line, how much weight should be added, and the proper amount of worm to place on the hook. As turns were taken to hold the umbrella casting shade on Barbara’s face, one could not help but see the beam of contentment she felt. Thanks to the success of this fishing trip, Barbara and her son, who was also present, have been inspired to plan more adventures.

“The goal is always to fill each day with purpose,” Avery said. “Megan and I listened to Barbara and determined we could bring her some joy. It’s also pretty inspiring to see how the staff and volunteers in our organization jump into action when a special request is made like this.”

Carolina Caring, founded in 1979, is an independent, community-based, nonprofit health care provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine, hospice care and grief counseling. Currently, Carolina Caring serves 12-counties across western North Carolina and the Piedmont. For more information, call 828-466-0466 or go to CarolinaCaring.org.