CJ’s Move Toward Hospice Work

A Dog's Journey

CJ transforms personal experience with chronic illness and family caregiving into counseling and companionship at the hospice.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Living with Dialysis Living with Dialysis from "A Dog's Journey". Chronic Treatment A Difficult Routine CJ’s kidneys are damaged, and she begins dialysis while trying to build an adult life.

Living with Dialysis from "A Dog's Journey". Chronic Treatment A Difficult Routine CJ’s kidneys are damaged, and she begins dialysis while trying to build an adult life.

Chronic Treatment A Difficult Routine CJ’s kidneys are damaged, and she begins dialysis while trying to build an adult life. Treatment brings fatigue and recurring medical stress. Support at Home Trent helps her manage the routine and remains attentive to changes in her health. Molly or Max stays near, offering companionship rather than a cure.

Care for Gloria Care for Gloria from "A Dog's Journey". Family in Hospice An Old Wound Returns CJ supports Gloria as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, despite a history of neglect and financial betrayal.

Care for Gloria from "A Dog's Journey". Family in Hospice An Old Wound Returns CJ supports Gloria as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, despite a history of neglect and financial betrayal.

Family in Hospice An Old Wound Returns CJ supports Gloria as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, despite a history of neglect and financial betrayal. She has to decide what responsibility means when forgiveness is incomplete. A Last Goodbye Toby wakes CJ as Gloria dies. The moment becomes a turning point in how CJ understands care at the end of life.

Considering Service Considering Service from "A Dog's Journey". A New Direction Hospice as Experience Having accompanied Trent through illness and seen the hospice care Gloria, CJ considers volunteering.

Considering Service from "A Dog's Journey". A New Direction Hospice as Experience Having accompanied Trent through illness and seen the hospice care Gloria, CJ considers volunteering.

A New Direction Hospice as Experience Having accompanied Trent through illness and seen the hospice care Gloria, CJ considers volunteering. She believes her own experience may help families facing similar fear. An Exception Requested Fran explains the policy against family members volunteering immediately after a loss. CJ asks for consideration, demonstrating that the work matters beyond personal grief.

Joining the Staff Joining the Staff from "A Dog's Journey". Counseling Others Returning to the Building CJ begins work at the hospice and visits patients and families.

Joining the Staff from "A Dog's Journey". Counseling Others Returning to the Building CJ begins work at the hospice and visits patients and families.

Counseling Others Returning to the Building CJ begins work at the hospice and visits patients and families. Toby stays beside her, offering calm contact while she talks with people in pain. Experience Put to Use Her background in psychology and illness informs her conversations. She helps others without claiming that her experience makes their suffering identical to hers.

Becoming a Guest Becoming a Guest from "A Dog's Journey". Care Received Choosing to Stop After years of illness, CJ stops dialysis and asks to enter hospice.

Becoming a Guest from "A Dog's Journey". Care Received Choosing to Stop After years of illness, CJ stops dialysis and asks to enter hospice.

Care Received Choosing to Stop After years of illness, CJ stops dialysis and asks to enter hospice. She describes the choice as acceptance and control over the quality of her remaining life. A Final Companion Toby stays with her as her health declines. The counselor who helped others becomes a patient whose needs are met by friends and caregivers.

After CJ’s kidney failure

Gloria’s final years

After Gloria’s death

After CJ has had time to grieve

After years of working at the hospice