There are stories that move us, and then there are those that touch our very souls. The following is a deeply personal account of one man’s life, his family’s love, and the profound impact of hospice in his final days…

My dad, Daniel Hager, was a proud American product of the Greatest Generation. Born in 1926, he lived a life filled with grit, determination, and unwavering faith. As a teenager, he worked on planes at Andrews Air Force Base, but at 17, he yearned for more. He enlisted in the Navy, finding himself on a train headed to unknown adventures at just 18. Those two years of service shaped him, instilling a discipline and pride that would stay with him forever.

After the Navy, Dad built a life. He started his own construction company, H&D Construction, and at 21, he married the love of his life, Helen. Together, they had three children. Dad’s hands were always creating, always providing. One project stood out – the first solar house in Dunkirk, Maryland. He’d beam with pride talking about that innovative home.

But as Dad grew older, dementia began to steal pieces of the man I loved. At 88, he entered Hospice care, beginning a 2 1/2-year journey of compassion and grace. Every week, a Hospice chaplain visited Dad, sharing prayers and stories of faith. They formed a bond, a friendship that brought Dad comfort. When a stroke took Dad’s ability to feed himself, it was his chaplain friend who spoon-fed him, a moment of pure grace. The Hospice nurses became his angels, easing his pain and calming his restlessness. They weren’t just caregivers; they were guardians of his dignity and comfort.

As Dad’s time drew near, the Hospice team shone like beacons. The Hospice chaplain anointed him, prayed over him, and held us together as we said goodbye. The chaplain’s eulogy captured my father’s spirit perfectly. In the darkest moment, they were light.

Hospice isn’t just about the end; it’s about honoring life, faith, and love. It’s about the kind of care that imprints a forever-mark on a family’s heart. I’ll carry the lessons of those Hospice workers with me, just as I’ll carry my dad’s love, always.

This powerful story of faith, love, and the transformative power of hospice comes from my friend Joy Poulin. Joy, who lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and family, shared the deeply personal journey of her father, Daniel Hager, and how hospice cared for him in his final days.