Hospice Care gives couple Hill Country vacation

Central Texas Medical Center Hospice Care recently helped Johnny and Mary Wasson enjoy a Hill Country getaway. The Wassons desperately needed a vacation to rekindle their joy during the final stage of life.

Johnny Wasson has been a patient of CTMC Hospice Care since November 2017. He and Mary have always enjoyed getting out of the house together, but with his declining health, they could only manage to escape for a few hours at a time.

As a part of its Dream a Dream program, CTMC Hospice Care, along with the help of local Wimberley businesses, was able to provide the Wassons with a relaxing threenight get away in the heart of downtown Wimberley directly on Cypress Creek.

Hospice care addresses not only the physical needs at the end of life, but it also brings emotional and spiritual healing to families.

CTMC Hospice Care honors the last season of one’s life with love, compassion and dignity for the entire family, according to Allison Hardy, director of CTMC Hospice Care.

“We are grateful to have been able to provide Johnny and Mary with this experience,” Hardy said. “The Dream a Dream program is just one aspect that makes our hospice care special. We truly focus on the whole care of our patients and their families during a very difficult time in life. Helping families make these final moments matter means everything to us.”

The Dream a Dream program, which helps create a special event or activity for a patient and his/her family, is just one way this is accomplished. It is usually an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones before the patient’s passing, or to check an item off their “bucket list.” The program allows families to create precious memories they can cherish.

The Wassons sit hand-in-hand enjoying a view of Cypress Creek.

Businesses that contributed to the Wassons' vacation include: The Cabins on the Square, Hill Country Premier Lodging, The Wimberley Café, The Leaning Pear, Kimberly’s in Wimberley, Sip! On the Square, The Wooden Spoon, Kamaway Market, Sugar Shack Bakery, Aloe Skin + Body and CTMC Hospice volunteer photographer Candice Dawn.

Central Texas Medical Center originated in 1923 as Hays County Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Memorial Hospital, opened at its current Wonder World Drive location in 1983. The CTMC staff of more than 700 employees works with more than 300 active and consulting physicians to provide quality services to patients and their families. For more than 20 consecutive years, CTMC has been named The Best Hospital in Hays County in the annual “Best of Hays” ballot released by the San Marcos Daily Record. In addition to interventional cardiac services, CTMC is a Certified Chest Pain Center and an accredited Primary Stroke Center. CTMC leads the region in da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery and offers a variety of specialty care services including medical imaging, rehabilitation, hospice, women’s services and more.

Central Texas Medical Center is part of AdventHealth. AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health. More than 80,000 skilled and compassionate caregivers in physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities and hospice centers provide individualized, holistic care. A shared vision, common values, focus on whole-person health and commitment to making communities healthier unify the system’s 46 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites in diverse markets throughout nine states.