| JOHN A. ROBINSON R.N. BIOGRAPHY MAY OF 1995 I STARTED MY NURSING CAREER AFTER GRADUATING FROM BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN PITTSFIELD, MASS AFTER GRADUATING I WORKED IN AREA NURSING HOMES AND WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT END OF LIFE EVENTS. SEEING THAT I WORKED IN A NURSING HOME I WAS ALWAYS STRUCK ON HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED ALONE WITH NO FAMILY AROUND. OCCASIONALLY I WOULD STAY AFTER MY SHIFT OR SPEND EXTRA SHIFT TIME WITH PATIENTS WHO WERE DYING, BECAUSE IN MY EYES NO PERSON DESERVES TO DIE ALONE. IN 2000, AN OPPORTUNITY AROSE AND I MOVED TO PA. TO BEGIN MY LONG-AWAITED, MUCH ANTICIPATED HOSPICE CAREER. I WORKED FOR A LOCAL HOSPICE IN S.W. PA. FOR 4 YEARS. DURING MY TENURE I BECAME INTERESTED IN STARTING OR CREATING A HOSPICE HOUSE WHERE I COULD PROVIDE END OF LIFE CARE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WELL ASK AND YOU RECEIVE. CIRCUMSTANCES AROSE AND MY DREAM CAME TO FRUITION. SEPTEMBER 2005 MY WIFE BOBBI AND I CREATED "UNITY A JOURNEY HOME" S.W. PA'S FIRST RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE HOUSE. WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS IN OUR HOME, CARING FOR ONLY 1-2 PEOPLE AT A TIME PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE YOU CAN AFFORD. 24 HOUR NURSING, HOME ATMOSPHERE, FRESH HOME-COOKED MEALS, COMPASSION AND CARING. OUR GOALS WERE TO TREAT THE "WHOLE" PERSON NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL DISEASE. A PERSON IS MADE UP OF A BODY, A SPIRIT AND A SOUL AND MIND, WE TREATED ALL 4. PART OF OUR THERAPY WE OFFERED WAS GRANTING WISHES TO EACH RESIDENT WE HAD. WE TOOK PEOPLE INTO OUR HOME AND MADE THEM A PART OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL AS INVITING THEIR FAMILY INTO OUR HOME. IT WAS A TRUE BLESSING. UNFORTUNATELY THE ECONOMY DID NOT SUPPORT PRIVATE PAY AND WE HAD TO CLOSE THE DOORS ON "UNITY A JOURNEY HOME." I REJOINED THE OUTSIDE WORKFORCE AS A HOSPICE RN. AS I STATED WE GRANTED WISHES TO EACH RESIDENT WE HAD,, FROM SITTING IN A RESTAURANT EATING CRAB CAKES AND A BEER TO A FAMILY PICNIC/RE-UNION TO AN ARENA FOOTBALL GAME. WE WERE SO BLESSED THAT WE CREATED "UNITY A JOURNEY OF HOPE" A NON-PROFIT 501C3 THAT GRANTS WISHES TO ADULTS W/A LIFE-LIMITING ILLNESS. SINCE THAT DAY WE HAVE GROWN AND GRANTED WISHES NOT ONLY HERE IN SW PA. BUT NATIONALLY. I AM PRESIDENT OF UNITY A JOURNEY OF HOPE. AFTER RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE MY THOUGHTS TURNED TO THE NEEDS OF MY PATIENTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THEIR FAMILIES. NO ONE PREPARES FOR DEATH OR DYING AND CERTAINLY NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THE JOURNEY ONE TAKES DURING AN END OF LIFE EVENT. IN MY CAREER I TAKE PRIDE IN TELLING FAMILIES WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, BECAUSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME. IT IS SO DIFFICULT WHEN A FAMILY SAYS, "WHAT SHOULD WE DO?" OR "HOW LONG DOES MOM OR DAD HAVE?" TOO OFTEN THE DOCTORS DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THEIR PATIENTS AND AS SAD AS IT IS SOMEONE HAS TO, USUALLY THE NURSE. I HAVE GUIDED MANY FAMILIES THROUGH THESE DECISIONS AND EACH PATIENT MADE THEIR OWN DECISION ABOUT LIFE KNOWING ALL THE OPTIONS AND FACTS. OFTEN TIMES I HAVE TO TELL FAMILIES THAT THERE IS NO OPTION. BUT GOD BLESSED ME WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION TO GUIDE THESE PEOPLE. THEREFORE I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS BOOK, FROM A NOVEL POINT OF VIEW. IF A PERSONS LOVED ONE WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE ONE THEY LOVE I THINK THE CARE WOULD BE LESS STRESSFUL AND CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE, CARING AND A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF EACH OTHER. THE BOOK ALSO HELPS THE SURVIVOR DEAL WITH THEMSELVES AFTER THE JOURNEY HAS ENDED. OFTEN THERE IS GUILT OF SURVIVING, NOW WHAT DO I DO? I AM HERE TO HELP YOU ON THIS JOURNEY. |
