From caregiver to care receiver, Willi Kirenko has experienced a great deal, and wants to help others with end-of-life care.
Kirenko, who spent more than 45 years dedicated to caring for others as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner, is fighting cancer to the point she is a resident at Chatham-Kent Hospice.
Her experience there has set the stage for she and her husband, Nestor, to help ensure others receive access to compassionate end-of-life care.
The Kirenkos have committed a $100,000 matching gift to Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation, giving community members an opportunity to double the impact of their donations.
Willi spent nine years providing end-of-life care before being diagnosed with cancer that has progressed rapidly. As her needs changed, she moved to Chatham-Kent Hospice, where she is now experiencing the care she once provided to others from the perspective of a resident.
Her experience has reinforced for her the importance of hospice care – not only for those nearing the end of life, but also for their families.
“I now understand hospice in a way I never could before – as a resident. I know firsthand what this care provides: comfort when things are difficult, compassion when words aren’t enough, and the reassurance that no one has to face the end of life alone,” Willi said in a media release.
These experiences have inspired Willi and Nestor to become ambassadors for hospice care and to help make this support available to others in the community.
“Hospice has also given my husband, Nestor, something precious. Instead of having to be my caregiver, he can simply be my husband,” Willi said.
Community members are invited to join them in supporting Chatham-Kent Hospice and helping ensure individuals and families have access to compassionate, specialized end-of-life care when they need it most.
