By By Sharon White/The Meridian Star
Dec. 26, 2000
Co-workers at Sta-home Hospice say when caring is the subject, John Gressett is like a blanket.
Gressett's willingness to go the extra mile for others became evident to the staff at Sta-home Hospice after October 1998. Because of his tireless compassion for others, co-workers at Sta-home elected him "Caregiver of the Year."
Gressett turned to Sta-home Hospice after his wife, Donna, was diagnosed with an illness from which doctors say she will never recover.
The form of Parkinson's disease that Mrs. Gressett suffers from has confined her to bed almost constantly since 1994.
Hospice is a "special way" of caring for people with a terminal illness and their families, Smith said. It helps patients and their families with pain and discomfort, fear and loneliness, and anxiety about what lies ahead.
Gressett said the hospice staff has helped him make a difficult transition.
He said his biggest concern about caring for a sick person was his lack of experience.
In late 1998, doctors told Gressett his wife had no more than a few weeks to live. With his constant care, she has survived comfortably, Smith said.
Sharon White is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at swhite@themeridianstar.com.