Patricia Clock Was a Force of Nature
Despite the physical and cognitive challenges she faced from her Parkinson’s Disease, Patricia Clock lived her life with passion and energy. A caregiver to others throughout her life, it was always difficult for her to acknowledge when she needed help…but when further treatment options for her advancing Parkinson’s Disease became too exhausting for her to contemplate, her family knew it was time. Their experience has made them Frederick Health Hospice supporters for life.
Patricia's journey with Hospice began with intermittent, at-home care. The care team came to her assisted living apartment. Under their compassionate care, she became settled and comfortable, giving her family the confidence to continue living their lives in a way that would otherwise have been impossible. Shortly after her 85th birthday, when it became clear that she needed around-the-clock hospice care, she moved to the Kline Hospice House. Patricia would live at Kline House for two months, and every day, she was blessed with the same compassionate, loving care she had spent her life giving to others. "Kline House was a beautiful place, but it was the remarkable staff that would bring us to our knees with gratitude in the months to come," shares her daughter Becky Orsini.
Hospice Medical Director Dr. Mary McDonald made sure her medications were working together to address the symptoms of her advancing Parkinson’s Disease and ease her pain. As importantly, McDonald always took the time to talk to with her family, clearly and compassionately, about the disease process and the symptoms Patricia was experiencing (or was likely to) and the options for managing those. Her hospice care team was a reassuring presence and constant source of information, and Kline House aide Brenda Boland took care of her daily needs gently and lovingly.
When music volunteer Judy Williams would visit in the afternoons, Patricia would close her eyes and relax completely as she listened to her sing the songs she had loved all her life. A deeply spiritual person, she was especially grateful for her relationship with Hospice Chaplain Nicodemus. There was an instant rapport between them. Becky explains, "I’m convinced that the spiritual and emotional support she received from Chaplain Nicodemus contributed greatly to her physical comfort—which, in turn, gave all those who loved her peace as well. In honor of her faith-filled life, he held a Mass for her in the Kline House chapel after her death—a gesture our family will treasure forever. "
"Thanks to Hospice, Mom was able to travel from life to death in a way that ensured her comfort, preserved her dignity, and allowed her to remain filled with joy and gratitude until the very end. I hope you will join me and make a gift to Frederick Health Hospice today."
