Throughout her life, Vera Jean Burnett lived by the motto, "It costs nothing to be kind." This ideology was present in everything she did and extended to all she encountered, from supporting local charities to helping animals in need.
Recently, we spoke with her husband, Kevin Burnett, about how that kindness was returned to him and his family through the care provided to Vera in her final days at the Parkview Supportive Care Unit.
Vera’s health journey
Kevin and Vera moved to Fort Wayne in 1982, planning to stay only one year. However, that year turned into 42 years. Four children and 7 grandchildren later, Kevin and Vera created a life and home full of special moments and countless memories. "We've just been very blessed," he said.
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In September 2023, Kevin noticed subtle yet concerning shifts in Vera's cognitive behavior, such as small memory lapses and a persistent headache. A visit to the emergency room revealed the presence of a fast-growing and aggressive type of brain cancer – glioblastoma.
The standard treatment plan for glioblastoma typically involves surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
"We had a great surgeon, Dr. Stephanie Falatko, who was gifted and kind. She told us early on that what Vera had was a monster and that it was a battle we were not going to win."
Despite the devastating prognosis, Vera approached it with her good-natured humor and wit. On the eve of her surgery, she hosted her "Cranium Party," an opportunity to bring friends and family together for food, brain teasers and merriment before her procedure.
"That was Jean," Kevin said fondly. Those fortunate to have known her would describe her as an avid reader who loved crosswords and sudoku and sought out anything that challenged her mind.
Entering hospice care
Following her operation, Vera returned home after a brief recovery in the hospital and seemed to be making tremendous progress. "The first six- or eight-days home, she got better every day and was on the right track," Kevin said. "She was doing okay until about the last week of October."
Vera's health took a sudden turn when she developed pneumonia, leading to a rapid decline. After several hospital stays and rehabilitation efforts, she slipped into a coma. At that point, Vera's care team introduced Kevin and their family to hospice services.
For families caring for a loved one facing a terminal illness, the emotional weight compounded with the day-to-day responsibilities of caregiving can leave even the most resilient of individuals feeling powerless and exhausted.
This was the condition Vera's loved ones found themselves in. "I don't know what else we could have done. It was tough on all of us," Kevin said.
A calming space
When time together is fleeting and care needs increase, many families struggle with the best option. Parkview Hospice offers inpatient care at the Supportive Care Unit (SCU) located at Parkview Hospital Randallia for those needing medical intervention that is not feasible in a home setting.
Admitted individuals and their family members experience patient-centered end-of-life care in a calm, peaceful and intimate environment, allowing them to focus on their final days together.
"You can't stop human beings from worrying, but hospice gave us a chance to be concerned with Vera and only Vera," Kevin said. "They did all the heavy lifting. All we had to do was be present, and I don't think you can put a dollar amount on that."
In this setting, patient rooms are equipped with a private bath/shower, seating that provides sleeping accommodations, and two comfortable family lounge areas that offer a common place to come together outside the patient's room to interact, share meals and enjoy each other's company.
“We want to make this time as special as we possibly can, a time that is surrounded with family and we want them to be able to take back all of these wonderful experiences and memories that they have from being on our unit with them forever,” said Brooke Kinzer, BSN, RN, CMSRN, director of infusion services, oncology administration, Parkview Health.
Although Vera wasn't conscious during her short time in the SCU, Kevin was deeply touched by her care team's attentiveness and compassion towards Vera and their family.
"They were there, talking to her, and they spoke softly. They always told us how she was and what had gone on when we came in. They're just ultimate professionals in a really, really difficult situation," Kevin said.
Hospice care is known to draw in a distinct caliber of individuals, particularly those who embody a great sense of empathy and a tireless commitment to the dignity and comfort of others.
Reflecting on the overall experience, though challenging, Kevin expressed that the hospice care team was wonderful. "It's a really unique group of individuals full of kind hearts. I think it's great to see people like that get together and execute the game plan by simply being nice to people."
"It's definitely a team effort,” said Jennifer Schmidt, RN, CHPN case management specialist, Parkview Health. “The staff that we have here, they want to be here. When they clock in, they clock in because they want to make a difference for patients and their families."
Learn more
If you have questions or want more information about hospice and palliative care services or a patient referral to Parkview Hospice, please call 260-373-9800 or 800-363-9977. You can also complete our online form here. Our team is happy to answer your questions and walk those paths with you.
