Putting it All on the Field

Mr. S. worked his whole life. He grew up with his dad in the Air Force, where he learned the value of family and taking care of others early in life. He enjoyed the time he spent at work and caring for others, helping them, and being relied upon for support.

But then he got sick, really sick. Eventually, he became so sick that he couldn’t work anymore and chose to enroll in hospice services.

He remained at home with the help of his parents, who are in their 80s and retired, and his sister, too, who visited and helped when they could. As time went on, he found he needed more and more help, and his family was spending more and more time assisting him. It began to be difficult, getting from the kitchen on one end of his home to the restroom, which was on the other end.

With the support of his family and hospice, he filled out the application for Trillium House and was placed on the waiting list. He was offered a room two times but decided he wasn’t ready yet. He was worried about how it would be at Trillium, would he like it? Would he be comfortable? Would it be awkward to ask strangers to take care of him? Could he afford it?

He started to worry about not taking his medications at the right time or taking too much or not enough. His family was worried, too, and found it harder and harder to leave him alone. They started taking turns staying with him. On the day Trillium called for the third time, they were trying to figure out how to move Mr. S. in with his parents to avoid leaving him alone.

The time had come for Mr. S. to say yes; he was ready to move in at Trillium House. He knew there would be a cost for care, but he was still afraid he couldn’t afford it. When he discovered the Dan Mazzuchi Care Fund and the sliding scale, as well as the help from UP Hospice Foundation, he was so relieved!

He was surprised at how good it was and shared his thoughts during his time with us. “The caregivers are amazing, and having help to cover some of the costs has provided peace of mind for us. I have my own place, and we’ve even decorated it with all of my stuff from home. I like football, especially the Packers. I can watch the game, visit with my family, and have time to myself.”

Mr. S. said that since he came to Trillium House, he felt better in general. He was grateful for everything his family had done for him. He had hoped to attend his son’s wedding and celebrate with family — and he did. He was there when his son married his beautiful bride, spent time with family, saw old friends, and made new memories.

This July, we remember Mr. S. and all of the wonderful talks we shared with him and his family. We are grateful every day to meet such amazing people and help them along their journey.

Posted on July 6, 2026 in General News. Bookmark the permalink.