History

1984

THE BEGINNING

The seeds of Hospice of the Wood River Valley were planted in 1984, when valley resident Ellen Fisher left a cooking class for a brief meeting with Alan Stevenson, CEO of Moritz Community Hospital in Sun Valley. Ellen, a breast cancer patient herself, had heard of the local need for outpatient end-of-life support. She returned to class from that meeting inspired and encouraged to start a local volunteer hospice, free to all.

Back in class Ellen shared the idea with Geri Herbert, who had studied with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, best-selling author of On Death and Dying. Geri offered to help. That conversation soon bloomed into action: Bonnie Brown Hartley enthusiastically joined the team, and the three women began to brainstorm. They needed a plan. They needed funding.

Ellen Fisher, Geri Herbert and Bonnie Brown Hartley became the nucleus of the original hospice organizing team. Dr Dennis Davis and Carlyn Ring soon joined them to serve on the first Board. Their goal was clear: to support patients with life-limiting conditions and their families with trained, competent and caring volunteers.

1984 -1985

Building the Organization

Notices in the local newspapers garnered about twenty interested community members for the start-up meetings. From there, every aspect of the grassroots effort was stitched together on a shoestring through the generosity and commitment of community members and local businesses and institutions. Legal assistance to establish nonprofit status was donated by Ed Lawson.

In addition to Dr Dennis Davis, advisor and Board member who helped in countless ways, the earliest hospice supporters from the medical community included Dr Ben and RN Renee Kreilkamp and Dr Ivan Gustafson, the first physician to recommend hospice volunteer help to his patients. Dr Rich Paris agreed to be Hospice’s first Medical Director; Dr Kathryn Woods and other Valley physicians were helpful as well. Caryn Crawford Long, Moritz discharge planner and social worker, told patients about the new hospice volunteer program.

Visits to Hospice of Marin in the San Francisco Bay Area and St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise were invaluable. With their guidance, along with a two-inch-thick manual from Good Samaritan Hospice in Battle Creek, MI, the group developed a robust volunteer training program. Training help came from local medical staff and visiting hospice professionals. Joan Dalton Boyd, grief counselor from Twin Falls, formulated and taught the bereavement curriculum and gave many public talks.

1985 -1989

Leadership and Volunteers

The first Director, Lane Schulz, was hired half-time in early 1985 but worked full-time from day one to launch the hospice. Moritz Hospital, already bursting at the seams, managed to create and equip a hospice office from a large utility closet in the hospital basement, next to the PT/rehab gym.

When Lane stepped down as Director in 1987, long-time volunteer Kate Wright seamlessly became the Director for the next two years. Both Lane and Kate worked to establish hospice as a resource in the valley. Sheila Cavanaugh joined as part-time administrative assistant in late 1985 while pursuing her Master’s degree in counseling. She became an essential member of the hospice team, providing not only her skills but also continuity for the first five years.

Earliest hospice volunteers included Wendy Collins, who later served as a hospital chaplain, and counselor Sandy Hyde Snyder. Many caring patient/family volunteers generously gave their time and energy.

Mid - Late 1980s

Serving the Community

In those days Blaine County lacked some important outpatient services for patients and families dealing with life-limiting illness. Home Health nursing was available, yet patients and families often could use additional support. The thorough hospice training prepared volunteers to step into that gap, and for the emotional challenges of end-of-life care. An ongoing volunteer support group helped them as well.

Much of the initial work involved explaining what hospice is and how hospice volunteers could help. The hospice movement was still fairly new: the first hospice in the US had only been established in 1974. Uneasiness around the subject of death and dying is common now—imagine what it was like 40 years ago!

Hospice offered a regular bereavement support group, as well as public education about grief. Valley residents began turning to Hospice for losses beyond life-limiting illness, including sudden death and suicide, children’s grief, divorce or loss of a pet. Hospice also offered some training to local Crisis Hotline volunteers and first responders.

Founded in 1984 to bring free, compassionate end-of-life care to our community.