A Chatham-Kent woman who worked in health care for more than 45 years and is now receiving end-of-life care is encouraging the community to donate to the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.<\/p>\n
Willi Kirenko and her husband Nestor will be matching up to $100,000 in donations to the foundation. Willi Kirenko has worked as a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner, as well as the vice-president and chief nursing officer at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and site leader for the local COVID-19 vaccination clinic.<\/p>\n
Recently, she spent nine years providing end-of-life care before being diagnosed with cancer that has progressed rapidly. <\/p>\n
In a video posted to the Chatham-Kent Hospice Facebook page, Kirenko said she decided to become a resident at the hospice after experiencing a number of falls at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt that even though it was early in the journey that I should come here for the services that are offered,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\t\tEditor\u2019s Picks\t<\/p>\n
Although her family was helping her at home, Kirenko said she felt \u201cthey should be family members rather than personal care givers.\u201d <\/p>\n
In a news release, Kirenko said she now understands hospice in a way she couldn\u2019t before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know firsthand what this care provides: comfort when things are difficult, compassion when words aren\u2019t enough and the reassurance that no one has to face the end of life alone,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Her time at hospice has led her and her husband to become ambassadors for hospice care and to make these services available to others in the community, the release said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone should have the same opportunity for end-of-life care that I have,\u201d Kirenko said in the video. \u201cI\u2019ve benefited so much already in the last few weeks. I want that same thing for others.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Willi\u2019s Match campaign will run until the end of the year or until the $100,000 goal is reached. Donations can be made at www.chathamkenthospice.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n
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