Hospice equals home

Published Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:47:15 PM Central Time



By DIANE MONTZ

Globe Staff Writer

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP -- Regional Hospice helped Bill Balduc remain at home during his last 13 months of life.

"That was his main concern," Brenda Balduc said of her husband, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- commonly called Lou Gehrig's Disease.

In his last year, Bill Balduc saw his younger son graduate from college, smiled at his first grandson and met his idol, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.

As Bill's condition worsened, Brenda, a nurse's aide and his main caregiver, had help from hospice staff and volunteers.

"I couldn't have done it without the help of hospice," Brenda said.

By the time Bill was totally dependent and needed 24-hour care, hired health care workers were on duty as well at the family's Ironwood Township home.

Bill Balduc was diagnosed in August 2004 with ALS. He was 48.

When the neurologist gave them the diagnosis, neither Brenda or Bill knew what ALS was.

"Lou Gehrig's Disease," the doctor said.

ALS, named for the baseball player, is a progressive neuromuscular condition. It causes weakness, problems in dexterity or walking, difficulty in speaking or swallowing. Patients eventually become completely disabled and require breathing support. (Information from American Family Physician's Web site, aafp.org.)

Bill's diagnosis came after four months of tests to rule out other ailments. It was the day before a party to celebrate the Balducs' 25th anniversary.

"That was really sad," Brenda said.

In the next three years, "there was a lot of fear, anger, frustration, a lot of denial," Brenda said.

A nurse Brenda had worked with recommended hospice. Brenda thought hospice care was only for patients with less than six months to live.

"She said, 'oh, no, that's not true,'" Brenda said.

In September 2006, hospice began coming to the Balduc home.

Hospice helped with equipment, medicine, personal care, support, volunteers, a chaplain and counseling. Bill Balduc got an hourlong massage weekly.

"They wanted to make Bill as comfortable as possible," Brenda said.

As a nurse's aide, Brenda was familiar with a lot of the medical equipment needed for her husband's care. Smiling, she said that she showed him only once how something worked and he instructed the other aides or family members.

Still, she said, caring for someone with ALS takes a brutal toll physically and emotionally.

"When it got real bad with the emotions, I asked for counseling to come in," she said.

Hospice provided counseling.

There were respites.

Bill and Brenda danced together one last time at their older son Travis' wedding in 2005.

In 2006, the Balducs went to Houghton for their son Troy's graduation from Michigan Technological University.

In September 2006, the Dream Foundation sent the Balducs to meet Bill's favorite NASCAR driver, Johnson, No. 48, at Hendrick Motorsports headquarters in North Carolina. Bill suited up and went for a ride with Johnson.

One of the hardest things for her husband, Brenda said, was that he was unable to hold their baby grandson.

On Labor Day, as Brenda got ready for work, "my husband said, 'pick up that phone, call them, tell them you're not coming in.'"

Brenda took a leave of absence from Villa Maria, where she has worked for 26 years.

Bill Balduc died Oct. 3. He was 51.

"I look back at it and ask myself, 'how did I ever do it?' " Brenda said. "All the love I had for him helped me keep going.

"Caring for Bill at home, in his own environment, has taught me that you can deal with all the anger, exhaustion and fear -- and all other feelings ... and get beyond them."

Hospice can help.

"Their support was such a joyful and beneficial experience," Brenda wrote in a heartfelt statement.


Candlelight memorial

IRONWOOD -- Regional Hospice is holding a candlelight memorial service tonight from 6 to 8 in the cafeteria at Gogebic Community College. Hospice families, others who have lost a loved one, and the public are invited. For more information about hospice, palliative care and advance care planning, contact Regional Hospice at 906-932-7076, visit Caringinfo.org, or call the helpline at 800-658-8898.

http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/1129hosp.htm