Layla Simpson with her mom, Amanda, while  Layla  was  a patient of Angela Hospice’s My  Nest  is Best Pediatric Program .  This  donor-supported  program helps children  to receive expert care  for terminal illnesses,  while remaining in the  comfort of home, with  family and loved ones  to support them. by Dana Casadei If Layla Simpson cries and it sounds different than usual, her mom, Amanda, wonders if Layla will be alive the next day. “I know that sounds dramatic but it’s kind of where we are at,” Amanda said. After you learn about Layla, who was born with a very rare birth defect called an encephalocele and is an Angela Hospice patient, it doesn’t sound so dramatic anymore. The 20-week ultrasound is where the Simpsons’ emotional roller-coaster began. That ultrasound, also known as the anatomy scan, is where many parents often get the first glimpse of their child, and photos of their pro...

Communication is a good thing. But what happens if you become unable to express your own wishes and beliefs? Making your end-of-life preferences known in advance can help ensure your wishes are heard even if your voice isn’t. And it’s simpler than you may think. Join us for a free, three-part series. Through expert insight, you’ll learn what to consider, how to plan ahead and make your wishes known, and come away with a legal document you can share with your family and healthcare providers. Presenters include the region's leading experts in ethics, senior care, home care, palliative care and hospice. As You Wish: Personalizing Advance Care Planning Wednesdays, April 26 through May 10 7 to 8:30 p.m. At St. Mary Mercy Livonia North Auditorium 36475 Five Mile Road, Livonia 48154 Register for this free series here For more information, call (734) 655-8943.

Jodi Eiseman’s boyfriend told her he’d bring her bike inside the house when she got too sick to ride it. It’s a favorite napping spot now for Jodi’s cat, Love Potion. See more photos at the end of this article. Jodi Eiseman has some things she wants to get off her chest. She’s about to turn 49, and she knows she won’t see 50. So she wants to tell her story. It’s one of faith, perseverance, and love – with a dose of humor too. FAITH Faith has always been what helped Jodi through. Before she was even old enough for kindergarten, as a scared little girl she saw a statue of the Blessed Mother start to glow. Mary brought Jodi comfort, and had a message of peace for her – even if it was a little lost on a mesmerized child. “At that age, you’re looking at Mary and going, ‘But you’re glowing. I hope you know that,’” Jodi remembered. But that has been the story of her life ever since: when she was scared, when she felt unloved or unsupported, and even now as cancer tries to take over...

Name, title: Matt Kozlo, Purchasing Coordinator How long have you worked here? Four years in April. What made you decide to work here? I worked prior for a DME vendor in purchasing and Angela Hospice was one of the accounts. When I heard about the opening at Angela Hospice, I not only wanted to expand my experience to the other side of the finance spectrum, but I also wanted to be a part of such a great organization. It has been the best decision I have ever made. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for Angela Hospice and to be a part of the company’s growth to be a great provider to those in need of hospice services. How had you heard of Angela Hospice? Through my old employer and fellow associates that also came over to work for Angela Hospice. What’s a typical day like for you? That’s the best part about my job: I don’t have a typical day. I try to stick with a routine of certain tasks to complete each day of the week but since my job de...

Name, title: Grace Washington, Home Care Hospice Aide How long have you worked here? Almost 16 years. What made you decide to work here? I was working at another company where I was doing a similar thing but it wasn’t hospice. I was going through the newspaper and I saw it. The HR woman at the time had me come in, put the application in, and she hired me. I just love being in the medical field. How had you heard of Angela Hospice? Through an ad in the Southfield Eccentric newspaper. What’s a typical day like for you? In home care there isn’t one. (laughs) It always changes, every day, it’s never the same. Call-ins or from the patients that we see or you get a call to go somewhere else…there’s not a typical day for a hospice aide. You want everything to go well but when you knock on that door you never know what you’re going to get. Before you even get a “hello” they have all this stuff going on that they want addressed right then before you even wal...

Sometimes the unimaginable happens. As a single mom, 44-year-old Carrie was used to a life of struggles, yet she seemed to get through them all with an inner strength. Call it perseverance – or maybe stubbornness – but Carrie did not give up easily.  Carrie worked hard to provide for her daughter. She was independent, but devoted herself to taking care of others. Maybe that’s why it was easy for her to overlook her own needs. So a seemingly harmless wound on her leg felt like a minor issue, not something she needed to get checked right away. What she never would have guessed is how that one decision would change her life forever. On October 28, 2015, Carrie went to bed fatigued, with a fever and chills, hoping to sleep off what she thought was the flu. But she was about to begin a traumatic journey.  Awaking in a delusion, without a sense of place or time, Carrie was rushed to the hospital. She would be flown to the nearest trauma center for emergency surger...

Name: Elaine Kokko How long have you been a volunteer? Four years. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? Bereavement, memorials, the Holiday Children’s Workshop, makes salads for weekly Caregiver Suppers, development, mailings, and annual events. What made you decide to become a volunteer? One of my good friends is a nurse on B-wing in the Care Center and I wanted to give back. What is your favorite part about volunteering? The people that I work with, that I volunteer with. The social workers in the Bereavement Department are really wonderful. When you walk into Angela Hospice it’s just a wonderful place to be. Elaine (center) at last year's Volunteer Appreciation dinner. What is one of your favorite stories or memories from volunteering? Oh gosh, they are all favorite moments. (laughs) There isn’t really a favorite moment…just the fact that I’m so honored to be able to wear the badge.