Editor,

My wife, Ruth Den Adel, was finally forced into hospice transferring from Virginia Mason Hospital to our Eastlake co-op after a courageous one-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. It was a natural for her to be in the care of Evergreen Hospice which typically covers King County. This allowed all her family and friends easy access to her without involving the ferry lines for the first three weeks of her critical condition.

I was very impressed with the excellent care of Evergreen from all their departments, especially her head RN, Diane Quigley. They were so good that we were really hesitating to let Ruthy come home to Langley where she really wanted to be with her cat, Sparkey, two beagles, Otis and Abigail, and all her close friends from over the past 12 years on Whidbey Island. How could we take a chance on such good care being given from a proven provider? It was so important for her to be comfortable on her last days while trying to cling to life.

Well, we took the chance with the full support of Evergreen Hospice and moved her to our home in Langley for her last 12 days under the new care of Whidbey General Hospice. I was praying that it would be longer, but the final decision was in the hands of God.

Much to our pleasant surprise, Whidbey Hospice was even better than Evergreen in every phase of their care. They were fantastic! Manger Diane Fuimara and Dr. Jerald Sanders were very hands on and actively involved. Erica, the RN, visited every day with professional advice and loving care. Dolores, CNA, giving everything involved with personal care with true commitment and compassion. Night nurses, RN’s, Mei, Chris and Joan, fabulous quick and professional responders. Dave Bieniek, compassionate chaplain. I am sure that Whidbey Hospice has many other competent team members, but these were the people involved in our personal care journey.

Sure, ultimately, this is a business and must be run as a business, but you can’t fake true and ultimate care and compassion.

They were awesome!

I will be forever grateful to Whidbey Hospice for what they did for “the love of my life” for 46 years, Ruthy, myself and my family. We are so lucky to have Whidbey General Hospice, a company that cannot only compete with the so called best hospice companies, but show their ultimate superiority.

DUANE DEN ADEL

Langley