Tim Barcomb and his family felt helpless and overwhelmed as they struggled to care for Tim's father, Floyd, whose pancreatic cancer had advanced beyond a possible cure. They realized that they couldn't give him the care and support he needed. Then, they heard about Vermont Respite House.
"We walked into Respite House
and found a comfortable, warm atmosphere that felt like a home," Tim said. Tim and his family were able to relax in the living room, enjoy homemade treats from the kitchen, have quiet reflection time in the chapel, and simply be present with Floyd in his own room for as long as they liked.
"The staff and nursing care was outstanding," Tim said. "They not only made my father feel at ease in his last days, but they also supported his friends and family who surrounded him in his final hours. They helped us understand the dying process and provided a comfort that we greatly needed."
The short stay made a lasting and profound difference and Tim will be forever grateful for those final moments he got to spend with his father. "For me, witnessing the dignity that the Respite House gave to my father in his final hours is inspiring."
Tim ran in the 2014 5K Fun Run & Jiggety Jog to raise money for the Respite House, which has been a home away from home for people with terminal illness since 1991. Gifts from our generous community allow us to provide care regardless of a person's ability to pay.
Please consider a gift to the Vermont Respite House Annual Fund and help us continue to care for families like Tim's.
