Our Story: Why We Started Pathway Hospice & Palliative Care in Southern Utah

At Pathway Hospice & Palliative Care, our mission is deeply personal. Our experiences with hospice care shaped our understanding of what compassionate, patient-centered care should be—and revealed how much change was needed in Southern Utah. These experiences became the foundation for creating a hospice and palliative care program focused on choice, dignity, comfort, and making the most of every day.

Our First Introduction to Hospice Care

My parents were longtime residents of Santa Clara, Utah. In 2003, after months of fatigue and illness, my mother was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer that had metastasized to her liver and brain.

We were given devastating news. The physician explained that she should already have passed away and that every additional day of life would be a gift. Hospice care was recommended, and we returned home to process what this diagnosis meant for our family.

My parents moved in with us in Las Vegas. My mother had been born and raised in England, where she had developed a strong appreciation for holistic approaches to health and wellness. She wanted to explore natural therapies, nutritional support, and complementary treatments alongside the comfort-focused care hospice could provide.

When the hospice team arrived, they asked a simple but powerful question: “What are your goals?” Rather than telling my mother what she must do, they listened to what she wanted. They connected us with practitioners, educational resources, and supportive services that aligned with her wishes.

Most importantly, they respected her right to make decisions about her own care.

A Gift of Time, Choice, and Family

My mother lived for six months and six days after her diagnosis. Every one of those days became a gift.

Our family from England was able to visit. Long-standing family concerns were resolved. We laughed together, cried together, shared stories, and created memories that would remain with us forever.

Because my mother remained in control of her care, she remained present in our lives. She was awake, engaged, and able to participate in meaningful conversations. She chose the treatments that mattered to her, and the hospice team supported those decisions.

Although hospice clinicians ensured pain medications were available if needed, they never forced treatment decisions. My mother managed her symptoms through natural, holistic, and alternative therapies. She never chose to use conventional hospice medications, but she had access to them at any time.

When she passed away, my father, several of my sisters, and I were at her bedside. Her passing was peaceful, dignified, and surrounded by love. It showed us what hospice care could be when patients are empowered to make their own choices.

Our Second Experience with Hospice Care in Southern Utah

Fifteen years later, our family faced another difficult journey.

My father suffered a minor stroke and was struggling with complications from adult-onset diabetes. A wound on his foot would not heal, leading to a partial foot amputation. Initially, he recovered remarkably well and remained active and independent.

Unfortunately, doctors later determined that additional surgery would be necessary and recommended amputation of his leg above the knee.

My father understood what that would mean for his quality of life. He believed he would lose the independence he cherished and become dependent on others for the remainder of his life. After careful thought, he decided not to have the surgery.

Our family supported his decision.

Planning a New Beginning in St. George

My husband’s business had evolved, allowing us to relocate to Southern Utah and bring my father into our home. We planned to care for him much as we had cared for my mother—with the support of hospice services and the love of family.

A physician at the rehabilitation facility explained that my father was actually healthier than many hospice patients. Aside from the non-healing wound, he remained relatively strong and active. Still, because he was choosing not to pursue surgery, hospice was considered an appropriate option.

We purchased a home in St. George and planned to move in on July 1st.

On June 25th, I visited my father. We spent the day walking around the rehabilitation campus, enjoying lunch together, and appreciating the beautiful weather. He was alert, engaged, and sharing stories. It was a wonderful day that I will always treasure.

A Different Hospice Experience

The following day, my father was admitted to hospice care.

When I returned with two of my children, he was heavily sedated and difficult to wake. Staff could not explain why he had become so medicated, suggesting only that he must have had “a difficult night.”

After several hours, he became more alert and said he remembered being given medication before bedtime but knew little else. Soon afterward, he began sharing stories and laughing with his grandchildren.

When nursing staff attempted to administer additional medication for pain, my father stated clearly that he was not experiencing pain. We questioned the need for the medication and requested that it not be given.

Yet moments later, while I was briefly away, additional medication was administered, and he became unresponsive again.

Over the next several hours, I tried to understand what was happening and sought answers from medical staff. Later that evening, I spoke with a physician who reassured me that my father remained physically strong and stable.

In the early morning hours, however, I received a call informing me that my father had passed away.

He died on June 29th—just three days after electing hospice care and only two days before our planned move to St. George.

How These Experiences Changed Our Understanding of Hospice and Palliative Care

The difference between our two experiences left us searching for answers.

We asked questions. We researched hospice and palliative care programs. We looked closely at how end-of-life care was being delivered and how patient choices were being honored.

Our family’s experiences reinforced a simple belief:

Hospice care should be about helping people live as fully as possible for as long as possible, while honoring their goals, values, beliefs, and choices.

We believe patients deserve individualized care, meaningful choices, effective symptom management, family support, and the opportunity to remain engaged in life whenever possible.

Changing Hospice Care in Southern Utah

Those experiences became the inspiration for Pathway Hospice & Palliative Care.

Our goal is to offer compassionate hospice and palliative care that focuses on quality of life, patient choice, dignity, comfort, and support for the entire family.

We are committed to helping patients make the most of every day, creating meaningful moments, supporting individual healthcare decisions, and ensuring families never feel alone during life’s most difficult transitions.

At Pathway Hospice & Palliative Care, we believe every day matters, every patient deserves a voice, and every family deserves compassionate support.