By Kim Johnson
My husband Brodie was the life of every party. Whether he was playing guitar, playing softball and hockey, coaching our kids in softball, or working as a civilian electrician at the Esquimalt Navy Base Dockyard, Brodie was loved by all.
I never could have imagined that I would spend our last two weeks together, by his side at Victoria Hospice. Our kids, Rhys and Kiley, aged 12 and 10, visited almost every day between school and staying with family, never knowing when they’d say goodbye to their dad for the last time.
I’m sharing my family’s story because the compassionate care we received at Victoria Hospice made all the difference during the most difficult time of our lives. This level of care is only possible because of generous donors like you. Your continued support will help ensure other families facing the unimaginable receive the care and comfort they need.
In 2017, Brodie began having headaches and reoccurring sinus infections. After frequent visits to the Emergency Room, Brodie was diagnosed with a brain tumor that, once removed, was found to be cancerous. He proceeded with chemotherapy and radiation and once his treatment was finished, we had two more glorious years with him; we tried to do everything on our bucket list as quickly as possible. We took trips to Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, New Orleans and Nashville, until the cancer returned in early 2019.
Brodie wanted to stay home as long as possible. With support from Victoria Hospice, I was able to care for him at home for a couple of months. But he deteriorated quickly, and it just became too much.
After we moved him to the Hospice Unit, I felt an enormous sense of relief that I could go back to being his wife, rather than his care provider.
The care Brodie received at hospice was compassionate on all fronts. They made sure he was comfortable; he was always bathed with clean clothes put on him every day and they also took care of all of us.
Our children, who were so young to be losing their father, remember watching kid-friendly movies with him on his bed. We took our Mini Aussiedoodle ‘Swiffer’ most days and she would sleep next to Brodie on his bed – it felt so homelike.
Brodie had lots of visitors while in hospice and his room was set up like a living room. He had a fridge and couches, and friends and co-workers, his second family, would come and have a drink while they visited. They would bring their guitars and sing to him and talk to him about all the good times they had. His room was filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt messages left on the whiteboard.
I will forever be grateful for the exceptional care my family received during our time of need.
In those last few days of Brodie’s life, we were all cared for without having to navigate his changing medical needs. We could all just be with him. I could be with my husband just as his wife and the kids could simply spend time with him. That was the greatest gift.
The child & youth counsellor was a lifesaver, both to me and my kids. Rhys and Kiley were able to talk through their feelings with someone who could help them process this major life change. The care team helped us to navigate our emotions as we witnessed everything unfold.
It is my wish that no family ever has to experience what we did, but in our darkest time hospice was there for us in ways we didn’t even know we needed. Your donation today will provide families like mine the opportunity to cherish their last moments with their loved one.
Thank you for giving local families the gift of time and compassion when it matters most.
We are grateful to Kim, Rhys and Kiley Johnson for sharing their story.