Hospice Care Helps Patient do the “Write” Thing
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Ancora Compassionate Care News Release • July 25, 2024 • F. Collins, Director of Maketing
In September of 2023, Elwood Shreve underwent three different surgeries in three different hospitals within six days. After a lengthy hospital stay following his third surgery, as he was being discharged in mid-October, he was told by surgeons he had a prognosis of two weeks to two months.
As part of his discharge plan, Mr. Shreve was referred to Hospice of Rockingham County (shortly before the agency adopted the new name of Ancora Compassionate Care). He admits his first thoughts about the referral were less than positive. “I’d already heard stories about hospice,” he said. And with misconceptions in mind, he assumed “my time was almost up.”
After his admission, Mr. Shreve met his nurse case manager, Carol Vanderwerf. He voiced his convictions that he had little time left and there wasn’t really anything Ancora Compassionate Care could do to help. Carol had a long conversation with him, outlining all that hospice can help with, with emphasis on quality of life, and pointed out that a prognosis is only a prediction of how long someone may or may not live. “In a month’s time, she had me believing I was going to have some more days,” said Mr. Shreve.
Mr. Shreve was encouraged by his care team to focus on things he would like to accomplish. Among the goals he had was publishing a book, so he began working on his first publication.
The seeds for writing a book were sewn very early in life. As a young boy, he loved to spend time outdoors “digging some sort of cave” and enjoying childhood adventures with friends. At one point, his adventures ground to a halt when he contracted rheumatic fever. To pass the time during his recovery, he watched a lot of Walt Disney. “Walt Disney was one who told tall tales and he inspired me to do the same,” said Mr. Shreve.
With a strong work ethic instilled in him by his parents, Mr. Shreve began working at a young age. The manager of Big Apple Farm Supply recruited him as an employee at the age of 14. “So, my father got a work permit for me,” Mr. Shreve said with a smile. As an adult, Mr. Shreve’s career with Sunshine Distributors, calling on grocery stores, afforded him the opportunity to travel and “to be outside.” After a long career with Sunshine, Mr. Shreve then worked for the Greensboro News & Record, retiring again after ten years in distribution.
Throughout his careers, the thought of writing a book was always in the back of his mind. When ideas and stories presented themselves, Mr. Shreve would jot them down on scraps of paper or paper napkins and tuck them away. As he neared retirement, he decided to pull out his note collection and to his surprise, he had 50 little morsels of inspiration.
Since his admission to hospice with Ancora Compassionate Care, Mr. Shreve has developed a strong bond with his care team. His nurse case manager, Carol Vanderwerf, hospice aide Kathy Johnson, and social worker Allantra Lewis have worked together to see that he feels comfortable, cared for, and supported. Having a team to manage his care has enabled Mr. Shreve to enjoy quality time at home. And he has put that quality time to good use. In late spring, he achieved his goal of writing and publishing his book.
“Unseen” is the title of his first book. When asked what the book is about, Mr. Shreve gave nothing away as to the plot but simply offered a mischievous smile and said, “It will work your imagination … there are lots of twists and turns.” Currently available at Lulu Publishing, it will soon be found on Amazon as well.
Mr. Shreve is quick to say how much Ancora Compassionate Care has helped him and looks forward to visits from each discipline. “When they leave, you know you just got the best care there is!” He is grateful for care that can be provided at home, eliminating any need for him to make trips to a medical setting. “There is no waiting for hours in a waiting room!”
Admitted shortly before Hospice of Rockingham County changed their name to Ancora Compassionate Care, Mr. Shreve is a big fan of the new name. “’Hospice of Rockingham County’ was fine … but when y’all chose ‘Ancora Compassionate Care’, that hit the nail on the head! It’s the ‘compassionate’ part that really describes everything you do!”
Mr. Shreve is grateful for all the care that has enabled him to be at home. “The older you get, the more you enjoy being at home.” With a smile, he added, “I had no desire to travel the world, but I do enjoy watching the guineas cross the yard!”
Not content to simply sit idle, Mr. Shreve has begun work on his second book and says it should be published in August. Grateful for months of quality time he did not anticipate last fall, he said, “The Lord gave me the extra days, so I’m not going to waste them!”
Mr. Shreve was recently a guest on Ancora Compassionate Care’s podcast, Compassionate Conversations. To see an extended interview with him, the podcast may be found at https://bit.ly/CompassionateConversationsJune2024.
About Ancora Compassionate Care Founded in 1987, Hospice of Rockingham County, Inc. rebranded in November 2023 and is now doing business as Ancora Compassionate Care. An independent, mission-focused, full-service hospice and serious illness care provider serving Rockingham County and the surrounding area since 1987, their primary goal is to provide specialized care to patients facing serious or life-limiting illnesses and support for their families while serving as a resource to the community. For more information, please visit www.ancoracc.org.
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