Even though John “Alvin” Moore didn?t celebrate Christmas with his family, he spent New Year with them, and even made a resolution.
“I want to get myself together, get back in church, get out of here and stop living the wild life I did,” said the 52-year-old resident of Joseph Richey Hospice in Baltimore City.
Hospice stresses quality of life ? peace, comfort and dignity, according to the National Institutes of Health. In any given year, there are more than 100,000 Americans receiving hospice care, and Joseph Richey is working on building a child hospice wing to accommodate younger patients.
Alvin has become much healthier since entering hospice care more than a month ago. “Before, he couldn?t keep down solid foods. Now he drinks soda and eats junk food,” his sister Yvonne Epps said.
“Just the other day, I went across the street to Rite Aid and got root beer and lemonade,” Alvin said.
He wouldn?t be in Joseph Richey if doctors thought he would pull through. Alvin is no longer receiving chemotherapy for his terminal lymphatic and lung cancer or for his HIV infection. The only treatments he receives in hospice are to ease his pain.
Alvin calls a small climate-controlled room, with cable TV and a remote-control bed home. It?s not a four-star hotel, although he receives 24/7 service.
Before he moved into room six at Joseph Richey, he lived in East Baltimore, where his sister and an on-call hospice nurse cared for him.
Two weeks before Christmas, his doctor recommended Alvin enter hospice care after a bout of severe coughing triggered by tumors in his chest, and a fall down the stairs.
Now Alvin spend his days relaxing, watching TV or playing pinochle and board games. His sister visits every day and takes him to Zion Baptist church and to a meal on Sundays.
“He?s even been spotted walking ladies down the stair,” said social worker Stacey Torres.
Even though Alvin is optimistic about going home, nurses say he wouldn?t do so well without the care he has been receiving.
