Bob and Carol Poolman of Portage enjoyed over 54 years together, raising their three sons and traveling over 100,000 miles together in their motor home. While Carol was a strong woman who overcame many health issues related to liver disease, her biggest challenge came in 2007 when she was diagnosed with liver cancer. “It was a tough time for her,” Bob recalls. “We chose Dr. Jeffrey Letzer from Borgess and tried several courses of treatment. Despite everything he and his wonderful staff did to help her, the cancer took over. When we knew there wasn’t anything else medically that could be done, Carol wanted to come home.”

With the help of Borgess Visiting Nurses and Borgess Hospice, Carol Poolman was able to get the care she needed, in her own home. Carol died last July, surrounded by her loving family and the caring staff from Borgess.

“Each staff person became like family to us,” Bob remembers. “They were all so kind, patient and understanding.” Since 1947, Borgess has provided a network of skilled care and encouragement that allows each person to enjoy quality of life at the end of their life. 24 hours a day, seven days per week, the team of highly trained professionals and volunteers work in tandem to provide medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual help to the terminally ill and their families.

Bob is one example of the many wonderful people whose lives have been touched by Borgess Visiting Nurses and Borgess Hospice. In fact, he was so grateful for the support both he and Carol received from Borgess that he signed his recent U.S. government “stimulus check” over to the Borgess Foundation.

Last year, as a result of gifts from individuals like you—and Bob Poolman—over 4000 families received care from Borgess Visiting Nurses & Borgess Hospice. We provide these services to anyone in our community, regardless of their financial or insurance status.