I can say without question the dominant reason I chose to join Home Instead Senior Care and to dedicate my life to caring for seniors, was the inspiration of a very special lady - my mother, Virginia Blanche Kelly. She passed away in 2009, but her life and actions embodied compassion and empathy for those around her in all that she did.
Her life was challenging in so many ways. But, she was courageous and always had a caring and compassionate reaction to adversity. She lost her first husband in an accident and became a widow with two young children. She later married my father and raised 7 children (I am the youngest). My parents moved to a farm in 1960 and for the last 5 decades of her life, Virginia was an unselfish and forever loving and decidated caregiver: A mother, wife, animal caretaker, and friend. She was our nurse, veterinarian, home builder and architect, confidant, playmate, and the glue that kept us together.
At the age of 73, and weeks away from final testing for her first degree black belt in Tai Kwon Do (wow!), she discovered she had early stage small cell lung cancer. Treatment weakened her and impaired her cognition. Overnight my mother went from a be-everywhere and do-everything caregiver to needing others to help her activities of daily living.
Our family responded as you might imagine any loving family would. We experienced shock, frustration, anger, depression and withdrawl. Luckily my siblings and I bonded to assist Mom. I believe we made Mom proud of us as we all focused to sustain her quality of life. She died quite suddenly on June 28th, 2009, while gardening at her own home.
I'm very proud that Mom lived her final years at home. She lived independently, surrounded by memories, possessions and routines developed over her lifetime. She was proud of her home and liked being near her family and animals.
I love you and thank you, Mom.
-Kelly Hutchison, Owner
