Chrissy Siders - Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home

“After 14 years of being a caregiver for my Momma, Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home allowed me to be her daughter again. For the last eight months of Momma’s life, I was able to forget the aspects of physical care and enjoy every moment I spent with her,” said Chrissy Siders, President and CEO of TRUE Community Credit Union.

When Chrissy brought her mother to the Hospice Home in 2014, then medical director Marvin Fields, MD, estimated that end of life would come within “hours to days.” As it turned out, Chrissy’s mother not only adjusted well to the staff and environment, but she was able to live another eight months.

“It might sound odd, but Momma actually had a great time at the Hospice Home,” Chrissy said. “She felt genuinely loved and cared for by the staff and volunteers, and her mental ability improved. I scheduled time to visit her daily for lunch. We watched soap operas and game shows together. We could wheel Momma to the garden to enjoy the weather, flowers, and the wildlife. And none of this would have been possible if I had been her caregiver with a young family and a full-time job.”

During her mother’s stay, Chrissy bonded with the Hospice Home staff and felt their support. They helped her prepare for her mother’s end of life by understanding the signs that would come before. “Most importantly, they taught me not to worry about when the end would come but to enjoy the time in between and to put the rest in God’s hands,” she said. “Everything I learned from them helped me again when my father died years later.”

To other families who are facing the death of a loved one, Chrissy recommends engaging hospice care sooner rather than later. “I will be eternally grateful for being able to take Momma peacefully from life to death,” she said.

Chrissy joined the Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Board of Directors in 2015 and currently serves as Board Chair. TRUE Community Credit Union is a proud cosponsor of the annual Hit ‘em Fore Hospice golf event, which benefits Hospice Home patients and their families.