Comfort and compassion in Yakima woman’s last months
When Cyndi Page was first diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer shortly after moving to Yakima, her family quickly mobilized to support her. In fact, her daughter Lisa Page made regular trips all the way from Bellingham.
Buoyed by her family, Cyndi fought the disease with everything she had, enduring months of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy at MultiCare Cancer Institute – North Star Lodge.
Unfortunately, the cancer returned last year and spread rapidly. Cyndi’s condition worsened, significantly impacting her memory and independence.
“The question became, ‘Is Mom safe at home?’” Lisa remembers. “And quickly, we realized, ‘No she wasn’t.’”
Cyndi was moved into an assisted living facility. After an injury resulted in a hospital stay last August, her family turned to donor-supported hospice care.
A helping hand
Hospice offers compassionate, holistic care during a person’s final months of life, supporting the patient and their loved ones. Nurses, social workers and chaplains work in tandem to manage symptoms, ease pain and provide emotional and spiritual guidance.
In 2024 alone, MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital’s Home Health & Hospice program served nearly 800 hospice patients. Whether in private homes, assisted living or the hospital, hospice care ensures patients can spend their final days in peace and dignity, surrounded by love.
“The entire hospice team tended to my mother so lovingly and went above and beyond what I ever expected,” Lisa shares.
“Specifically, my mom’s nurse Melissa became my eyes and ears when I couldn’t be there. She was gentle, persistent and absolutely vital to my mom’s comfort. She helped me care for my mom all the way to the end. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
Philanthropy’s role
Yakima Memorial’s hospice services continue to grow in strength and scope, ensuring no family walks their journey alone.
Thanks to generous donations through Memorial Foundation, our partner in philanthropy, offerings extend beyond bedside care. Community support of the Compass Care initiative helps fund grief workshops, bereavement events, volunteer support, grief training, bilingual education materials and more, changing the course of end-of-life care in Yakima Valley.
