501(c)3 in Submission
Ninety-eight percent of CF patients transition from this life in a hospital room, often alone, and often in pain. Mary had a purpose to avoid that for herself. She held out hope that she could make a difference for other CF patients. If funding could be made available for hospice care, or in-home care, then those making that transition could have family close.
From an early age, Mary knew how unique she was. Every moment took on special meaning when those moments were deemed so finite. Her favorite celebratory expression was TaDa, or Taa Daa, as she wrote on this note to her D.A.D.
Mary wanted to experience as many TaDa moments in life as she could pack in. She looked for them. She planned them. She shared them with as many friends and family as possible. She was known for her TaDa singing arms-flung character expression.
As her father, I could not think of anything more fitting than to use TaDa as a means to pass on her love for the serendipitous moments of achievement and life. It gave her hope for more to come.
Her excitement and passion for life developed into a force of purpose in her. She seemed to plan even her transition. As her eyes told me in the final moments, she was content in her TaDa moment and hopeful for the next.
Mary arrived by air on July 16, 2017, in a wheelchair and on constant oxygen. Eight days later, her purpose fulfilled, Mary transitioned at home from this life, peacefully, without pain and surrounded by those she loved and loved her. In contrast to a saying amongst CF patients, “if you can’t breathe, nothing else much matters, she could finally, breathe easy.
During the last days, Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell, NC, provided home palliative care and other valuable support and assistance. Mary was able to express her gratitude and desire to help other Cystic Fibrosis families prepare for inevitable hospice needs.
The creation and use of the Thumb’s Up TaDa registered logo to raise awareness of, and provide support and assistance for, end-of-life care for CF families was at Mary’s request for legacy. She wanted to know she was leaving the world a better place for her having been here.
All net proceeds from donations to the Mary Boleyn Hospice Foundation Inc. are available to financially support and assist hospice care facilities in their palliative care for Cystic Fibrosis families.
For local Caswell County hospice and palliative care contact:
Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell
914 Chapel Hill Road
Burlington, NC 27215
Toll-Free: 800-532-8878
Website
Thanks to our sponsors for continued support and advocacy for Cystic Fibrosis families in Canada and the US.