Tomah Journal - Printable Version

Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Sunday, February 03, 2008

Portraits of HOPE display visits Tomah

Tom Flock knows all too well the benefits of Hospice Touch. In fact the Tomah resident has spent a lot of time at the Hospice Touch Serenity House at 300 Butts Ave., across the street from Tomah Memorial Hospital.

“I had an aunt, an uncle, a brother-in-law and my mother all under Hospice care here in Tomah, and spent a lot of time at the Hospice House,” Flock recalls.

Flock got a chance to talk candidly about Hospice Touch while viewing a special Wisconsin Hospice exhibit on display in Tomah.

The Portraits of HOPE photography exhibit acknowledges the 30 years that hospice programs have been in Wisconsin and features both color and black and white photos submitted by 22 Wisconsin hospice organizations, including Hospice Touch of Tomah Memorial Hospital. Panels of the exhibit are on display at the First Bank in Tomah and at the Farmers & Merchants Bank in Tomah. The display was created by the Wisconsin Hospice organization - Hospice and Palliative Experts of Wisconsin or HOPE - to commemorate hospice care in Wisconsin and tell the story of hospice by highlighting patients, their families and dedicated hospice caregivers.

Flock’s mother, Agnes, is featured on a panel of the display in the lobby at First Bank.

“I’m pretty proud of that,” Flock said of the recognition given to his mother, who passed away in 2005 after a four-month stay at the Serenity House in Tomah.

“Obviously when you go in there (Hospice Serenity House) you know the end result, but day to day - the care you receive there - is like no other,” he said. “Her whole experience there was very good for her and especially for the family” he added.

The photo of Anges Flock shows her taking a motorcycle ride with her nephew, Lamont Berendes of Minneapolis. “He took her for a ride around the lake (Tomah),” Flock remembered. Flock said it was one thing his mother had always wanted to do.

Flock, who also serves as the chairman of the Hospice Touch Advisory Committee, said having the exhibit make a stop in Tomah is “huge to spread awareness” of the program.

Hospice Touch Director Mary Rezin said the exhibit will be on display at the two financial institutions until Feb. 9 at which time it will be moved to the at the Three Bears Lodge & Conference Center at Jellystone Resort in Warrens for the 2nd Annual Hearts for Hospice Dinner Dance. The Feb. 9 event begins with a social at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“We’re trying to raise the awareness of hospice in the community,” Rezin said. “By looking at the display you can easily see that once people realize where their journey is taking them, that their time may be limited but not their hope and quality of that time.”

The exhibit will be displayed in a variety of venues across the state over 18 months.

In October 2005 Hospice Touch formed the 20-member advisory committee to identify end-of-life needs and build community support, resources and infrastructure to address the needs of patients the program serves in Monroe, Juneau and Adams counties.

Hospice Touch has been providing end of life care since 1992 and has offices in Tomah, Mauston and Friendship. Approximately 150 patients are cared for through Hospice Touch each year.