Thanks to Jamie’s Place
Dear Editor:
The last couple of years I’ve been amazed at the thoughtfulness, caring, dedication and resilience of the staff and administration at Jamie’s Place.
Through COVID, aging infrastructure challenges, flooding and displacement they maintained a caring, supportive environment for the residents and actually improved the facilities.
Nothing compares, however, to the level of support and outpouring of love and compassion we experienced as our mom, Kerstin Pritchard, passed away. It was obvious that the residents and caregivers had become a family and all shared in grieving her passing.
My mom’s life and ours have been enriched by our time spent at Jamie’s Place. I encourage you all to learn about and find a way to support this essential place in our community.
Michael Pritchard, Elaine Marquez
and family of Kerstin Pritchard
Winthrop
Advance Care Planning
Dear Editor:
Recently around 20 people in their 30s and early 40s gathered for a potluck at the Heckendorn Park to talk about dying. An unusual gathering for people that age, but an important one. As we see our parents age, grandparents die and loved ones face various medical issues, talking about and planning for a good death feels pertinent. We came together to work on a vital document to aid in a better death, an advance directive or living will. Under the guidance of Justin Porter, palliative care nurse at Family Health Centers, we answered deeply personal questions about what a good life and death look like to us. While thinking about what medical interventions you would like at the end of your life and what a good death looks like can be deeply uncomfortable, it can also be an introspective and thought-provoking exercise.
Using the Advance Care Planning form from Honoring Choices Pacific NorthWest we pondered questions like: What does “living well” or a “good day” look like to you? What do you most value in your life? What provides you support, comfort, and strength during difficult times?
None are easy answers but all give you pause as you reflect the ways you live and how you would like to age and die. Doing an advance directive is also an empowering experience. It gives you something many people don’t get the chance to do; provide clear direction to your loved ones about the care and intervention you’d like taken for end of life care. It is such a gift to be able to take the burden of decision making about medical interventions off the plate of the people caring for you during death.
If you’d like to learn more about advance directives come see the Okanogan Palliative Care Team at their table at the Farmers Market on Sept. 17. You can also call them at (509) 557-0417.
As Justin mentioned during the event, the best deaths look a lot like Thanksgiving- family and friends gathered around, food, music, memories being shared and lots of love. What’s a more beautiful way for a life to end than that?
Marisa Monteverde
Winthrop
