When June and Mark met in 1976, it was love at first sight. 

“Together we raised three beautiful children and built a life that dreams are made of,” says Mark Bowman.

When June was 58, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. “To witness the love of your life slowly disappear right before your eyes is horribly cruel. It kills everyone a little bit,” explains Mr. Bowman.

Throughout her disease, Mr. Bowman was determined to keep June at home and care for her.

“Alzheimer’s Disease takes three things from its victims; their mind, their dignity, and their self-worth. I came to accept that I could do nothing about the disease taking her mind […], so I focused on preserving her dignity and self-worth by keeping her at home where I could keep her clean, fed, and loved in the familiar surroundings of the home I built for her 40 years ago.”

June was under Blue Ridge Hospice’s care for 13 months. Working together with Mr. Bowman, we were able to help realize his dream of keeping June at home with him. “It would have been a great struggle — if not impossible — for me to keep her at home in those final months without Blue Ridge Hospice,” says Mr. Bowman.

“When June came under hospice care, that became the greatest resource of my life.”

June, Mark, and their family benefited from the full array of services we offer. Our interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, certified nursing assistants, chaplains, and music therapists supported them every step of the way.

“There will always be a permanent place in my heart for all of you [at Blue Ridge Hospice],” says Mr. Bowman.

And similarly, June and Mr. Bowman have earned a place in the hearts of our staff.

“To see the dedication and love that Mark had for June, and the living room dance parties we had, are just a couple of many things that brightened my day in the Bowman house — a family that will truly leave an imprint on my heart forever,” says Kayla Dyke, Certified Nursing Assistant with Blue Ridge Hospice.

“It’s the people that make it work,” says Mr. Bowman. “For me, the team I had from Blue Ridge were a gift above and beyond anything in the medical world.”

“[Nothing] could make hospice work without the compassionate people within that have the ability to deal with death, day in and day out. This is the true motherload of hospice.”

Our staff is on the road every single day, visiting patients in even the most remote corners of our service area.

But many of the services we provided are unfunded, so we can’t do it alone.

We need your help to continue to provide end-of-life care to patients and families like Mrs. and Mr. Bowman.