“A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.”- Isadora James
What does sisterhood look like to you? Playing dress-up with mom’s wardrobe, bickering about whose blouse that really is, or maybe comforting each other during a scary movie? However you define it, there is one description that resonates with all sisters: a forever best friend. At Consulate Health Care, we understand the importance of spending time with loved ones and for sisters Thelma Fedorka and June Traeger, we wanted to show them what sisterhood means to us.
Thelma Fedorka is a 96-year-old resident at Siemon’s Heritage Personal Care Center in Somerset, PA, also known as The Heritage. Her sister, June Traeger, is a resident at the Viaquest Hospice in Monongahela, PA and about two hours away from her older sister. Due to their health conditions and the distance between them, these two sisters have not seen each other for two and a half years. But on June 2, 2015, Siemon’s Heritage Personal Care Center and Viaquest Hospice partnered together to reunite the two sisters just days before June’s 98th birthday.
“On the day of their reunion, the sisters and the employees of The Heritage and Viaquest were brimming with excitement.”
Our care centers partner closely with local service providers to coordinate care and grant requests when possible to residents receiving hospice care. During a routine visit, Thelma told a Viaquest social worker that she would like to see her sister once more. Upon learning about this request, the team at The Heritage committed to making her wish a reality. Viaquest Hospice helped unite Thelma and June by generously providing transportation and a photographer to capture this emotional yet joyous reunion. We couldn’t be more thankful for what they did.
On the day of their reunion, the sisters and the employees of The Heritage and Viaquest were brimming with excitement. When she arrived at the front doorway, Thelma exclaimed “This is the most wonderful thing in the world!” There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as family and staff watched two best friends finally reunite and exchange hugs, words, and tears. Sitting closely next to her little sister, June looked over and declared, “We’ve never had a fight!” Just the two of them growing up, Thelma and June always had a close and special relationship and for many years would talk on the phone almost every day. Thelma and June’s family members were invited to celebrate and enjoyed a luncheon with birthday cake hosted by The Heritage. Reuniting the two sisters was not just a gift to them, but a gift to us as well.
We believe it’s moments like these that motivate our staff to have a strong commitment to each and every resident. The compassion shown on this special day is just one example of how providing the highest quality-of-life is at the center of everything we do.
Thelma Fedorka passed away peacefully on January 3rd, 2016. We are thankful that we could assist with this wonderful reunion and bring both sisters a moment of happiness. Thelma will be remembered fondly by all of us here at Consulate Health Care.
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