Hospice volunteer becomes client
By Joanne Fox | Posted: Monday, January 05, 2009
John Ankerstjerne, at right, visits with long-time friend and Hospice client Bob Comfort at Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting, Iowa. Ankerstjerne, a Hospice volunteer, is now a Hospice client as well. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
WHITING, Iowa -- Hospice volunteer John Ankerstjerne, 80, sat with his longtime friend Bob Comfort, 93, in the lobby of Pleasant Hills Care Center. When asked how Ankerstjerne became involved with the organization, you knew by the look on his face you'd been set up.
"Why, I think my daughter had a little to do with it," he said with a grin and twinkle in his eyes, as he glanced in the direction of Sherri Johnston, who has served as the director of Hospice and Home Health at Burgess Memorial Hospital in Onawa, Iowa, for the past 30 years.
Once the laughter subsided, Ankerstjerne answered the question again.
"I wanted something to do when I retired about three or four years ago," he said. "And I wanted to help out."
Hospice care is designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a life-threatening illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. The program was initiated in the 1960s in England when a British physician used team support and pain management techniques to compassionately care for the dying.
Volunteers, like Ankerstjerne, are part of a team.
"There's a shortage of folks who want to help people die," he said. "Actually, the program has little to do with death and dying."
Hospice volunteers may visit clients several times a week, sometimes for two, three or four hours, depending on the needs of the caregiver. The volunteers assist the Hospice team in providing care to patients who have a life-threatening illness and to the patients' families.
Although the word "hospice" may bring to mind health care providers, Ankerstjerne is not that. "I just sit and visit," he said matter of factly. "I leave that medical stuff to the professionals."
The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of a patient's end of life by offering comfort and dignity. Ankerstjerne admitted the interaction can be "a bit tough" because often the outcome is not that the patient will recover.
"Sometimes you can't relate to what they're going through," he acknowledged. "In those cases, I might just hold a hand, provide support and comfort."
For his efforts, Ankerstjerne was recently honored by Burgess Hospice at the Iowa Hospice Organization annual conference for his time and dedication to support Hospice patients as a volunteer. He was recognized with other volunteers from Hospice agencies across the state at a recognition luncheon at the annual conference in Ames Nov. 18.
"John has made an extraordinary difference with several of our patients and their families and the caregivers since he joined Burgess Hospice as a volunteer in 2006," said Jim Taylor, Hospice social worker.
Presenting a positive attitude helps, Ankerstjerne said.
"We're here for a certain amount of time and then, that's it," he pointed out. "I'm 80-plus and it'll come for me too."
In addition to being a Hospice volunteer, Ankerstjerne is now a Hospice client, suffering from Inclusion Body Myocitis.
"It's an inflammatory disease that causes the muscles in the arms and legs to deteriorate," Johnston explained. "A patient gradually loses strength in those areas.
"He's kind of a hard-headed Dane," she continued. "Dad fell one time and when we pressed for Hospice care, he insisted he had not hurt himself that badly."
"They send a nurse over about once a week for pain management," Ankerstjerne said. "Other than that, I eat like a hog and sleep like a baby."
VITA
Name: John Ankerstjerne
Hometown: A farm south of Blencoe
Education: 1946 graduate of Blencoe Consolidated School; attended Morningside College in 1948
Professional: Farmed since 1948, first with his father, then on his own; raised sugar beets for years; drove truck all over the U.S. after leaving farming
Personal: Married to wife Lila since 1951; three children (one son deceased); eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren
How he's making a difference: By volunteering with the Hospice program of Burgess Memorial Hospital, Onawa, Iowa.
"Why, I think my daughter had a little to do with it," he said with a grin and twinkle in his eyes, as he glanced in the direction of Sherri Johnston, who has served as the director of Hospice and Home Health at Burgess Memorial Hospital in Onawa, Iowa, for the past 30 years.
Once the laughter subsided, Ankerstjerne answered the question again.
"I wanted something to do when I retired about three or four years ago," he said. "And I wanted to help out."
Hospice care is designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a life-threatening illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. The program was initiated in the 1960s in England when a British physician used team support and pain management techniques to compassionately care for the dying.
Volunteers, like Ankerstjerne, are part of a team.
"There's a shortage of folks who want to help people die," he said. "Actually, the program has little to do with death and dying."
Hospice volunteers may visit clients several times a week, sometimes for two, three or four hours, depending on the needs of the caregiver. The volunteers assist the Hospice team in providing care to patients who have a life-threatening illness and to the patients' families.
Although the word "hospice" may bring to mind health care providers, Ankerstjerne is not that. "I just sit and visit," he said matter of factly. "I leave that medical stuff to the professionals."
The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of a patient's end of life by offering comfort and dignity. Ankerstjerne admitted the interaction can be "a bit tough" because often the outcome is not that the patient will recover.
"Sometimes you can't relate to what they're going through," he acknowledged. "In those cases, I might just hold a hand, provide support and comfort."
For his efforts, Ankerstjerne was recently honored by Burgess Hospice at the Iowa Hospice Organization annual conference for his time and dedication to support Hospice patients as a volunteer. He was recognized with other volunteers from Hospice agencies across the state at a recognition luncheon at the annual conference in Ames Nov. 18.
"John has made an extraordinary difference with several of our patients and their families and the caregivers since he joined Burgess Hospice as a volunteer in 2006," said Jim Taylor, Hospice social worker.
Presenting a positive attitude helps, Ankerstjerne said.
"We're here for a certain amount of time and then, that's it," he pointed out. "I'm 80-plus and it'll come for me too."
In addition to being a Hospice volunteer, Ankerstjerne is now a Hospice client, suffering from Inclusion Body Myocitis.
"It's an inflammatory disease that causes the muscles in the arms and legs to deteriorate," Johnston explained. "A patient gradually loses strength in those areas.
"He's kind of a hard-headed Dane," she continued. "Dad fell one time and when we pressed for Hospice care, he insisted he had not hurt himself that badly."
"They send a nurse over about once a week for pain management," Ankerstjerne said. "Other than that, I eat like a hog and sleep like a baby."
VITA
Name: John Ankerstjerne
Hometown: A farm south of Blencoe
Education: 1946 graduate of Blencoe Consolidated School; attended Morningside College in 1948
Professional: Farmed since 1948, first with his father, then on his own; raised sugar beets for years; drove truck all over the U.S. after leaving farming
Personal: Married to wife Lila since 1951; three children (one son deceased); eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren
How he's making a difference: By volunteering with the Hospice program of Burgess Memorial Hospital, Onawa, Iowa.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 1 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
deb wrote on Jan 5, 2009 5:43 AM: