Committed to supporting the future—Debbie Moore and David Waud
Siblings Debbie Moore and David Waud initially became involved with Midwest CareCenter when their mother, Anne, and then their father, Morrison, were enrolled in the organization's hospice program. Their experience with Midwest CareCenter over the years has inspired their volunteerism, financial support and commitment to future initiatives.
Then (1998–2007)
Every evening for the better part of nine years, members of the Waud family would gather at Lake Forest Place for cocktail hour with their parents, Anne and Maury. "Usually there would be three or four of us," David Waud recalled, referring to the six Waud children: Diana, Ernie, Ronnie, Morrie, David and Debbie. "And sometimes there'd be grandchildren."
Typically, the Wauds would first visit with their mother, who had moved to a skilled nursing floor in 1999 to receive care for dementia. Then they would travel up one floor to talk with their father, have a drink with him and walk him to the dining room. "We would have wine, and Dad would have his signature drink, a ‘lace curtain,'" Debbie Moore, the youngest sibling, recalled with a laugh.
The cocktail hour gathering became an important routine for the Waud siblings … an opportunity to spend meaningful time with their parents. "We just loved being with them," David said. "People said Mom and Dad were so lucky to have us close, but we felt the opposite: We were so lucky, in their old age, to have them close. Having them nearby, where we could help and be with them, was a tremendous blessing for us individually and as a family."
While living at Lake Forest Place, both Anne and Maury received hospice care through Midwest CareCenter: Debbie and David agree that the hospice team was essential to managing their parents' healthcare. David reflected: "One of the big plusses with hospice is that you have somebody to coordinate the care."
"Especially with Mom," Debbie added. "She was taking so many medications for sleeping, for calming. We appreciated that hospice took over. It gave us peace of mind knowing that the team was looking over everything."
Anne died in May 2007; Maury died exactly eleven weeks later in August. "The only reason Dad didn't die earlier was because he wanted to be around Mom and help take care of her," said Debbie. Both parents were surrounded by family and members of the hospice team. Both had received a range of services offered through hospice—physician and nursing care, social worker and chaplain visits, as well as music therapy.
Now (2009)
Debbie and David pointed out that their parents were a couple with complementary personalities. "Mom was affectionate, funny, outgoing and hands on," David noted. "She was always the one who picked you up at the airport and made the phone call."
"Dad was affectionate too," said Debbie. "But he was quieter, although he would sing to us in the car and tell great stories. He was a gentleman—well-respected, successful and kind."
Today, the Wauds honor Anne and Maury's legacy—and the care they received through the Midwest CareCenter Hospice program—through volunteerism and financial support. David visits with hospice patients regularly as a volunteer with Midwest CareCenter. Debbie has made ongoing gifts to the organization.
And, in memory of their parents, the Waud children plan to help fund the campaign for a healing garden and inpatient care facility on the Midwest CareCenter campus in Glenview. "It's the one issue on which we can all agree," said Debbie. David added that the campaign was launched "at the right time" and supporting it is a "natural fit" for his family: “Hospice was something that helped both of them and helped us."
