Fall 2022

Agrace Adds More Science to the Art of Managing Heart Disease Symptoms

Fluid is draining away rather than collecting uncomfortably in Linda’s abdomen. There’s less pressure on her heart and lungs. She has fewer heart-racing episodes of atrial fibrillation (a-fib). But perhaps what Linda values most about Agrace Hospice Care is being able to have her heart failure symptoms managed at home, without weeks-long hospital stays. 

Choosing hospice care was not easy for Linda, a retired middle-school art teacher who is also a talented painter. For more than a decade, she received specialized care for a complicated case of heart disease. But eventually, there were no further curative treatment options. 

“What did it for us was hearing that hospice is about comfort,” says Linda’s husband, Gerard. 

Over the past year, Linda’s Agrace nurse case manager, Nimmer Plourde, has worked to improve her comfort. He’s been able to consult with Karen Nissen-Boryczka, RN, who joined Agrace early this year as our first cardiac nurse specialist—with vast experience caring for patients with heart failure. “When we were trying to decide to go with Agrace, our hesitancy was no longer having access to the heart team,” Gerard explains. “Then all of a sudden you guys have a heart nurse! We like having that resource available to us.” 

Linda adds, “It is just more comforting to have a nurse come to your house and make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do.”

Adding Specialized Cardiac Care

Unlike Linda, more than half of Agrace’s hospice patients who have heart disease come to us without a cardiologist’s care. That’s why we’ve collaborated with the American Heart Association to offer an Advanced Cardiac Care Program to both our hospice and supportive care patients. As part of this program, Karen consults with Agrace’s hospice nurses and palliative care providers to better manage patients’ troubling heart-disease symptoms like fluid retention, swelling, breathing trouble, heart palpitations, nausea, anxiety and fatigue. 

When her symptoms became very hard to manage at home last March, Linda spent a few days at Agrace’s inpatient unit in Madison. During that stay, Agrace’s care team adjusted her medications to help manage the fluid retention and breathing trouble. A pleasant surprise was seeing the hallways lined with art. “Great, great artwork!” Linda emphasizes. “Children’s art, local paintings—I’ve been going to museums for years, and it’s one of the best collections I’ve ever seen.”

After that stay, Linda’s care team arranged to have a permanent drain placed in her abdomen at an outpatient clinic. It continually removes uncomfortable excess fluid. “That was a big increase in her feeling better,” Gerard notes. 

“Having access 24/7 to Agrace and being able to call when you have any problems and concerns—it’s a surprising service you offer,” Gerard summarizes. 

Linda agrees: “It’s amazing.”

September 17: BANDing Together for Agrace, Dodgeville

Get your tickets now for this fun, three-act benefit concert at Ley Memorial Pavilion in Harris Park. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Performances by Big Cat Eddie, Shekinah King and the Alpha Romeos and SuperTuesday start at 5:30 p.m., and there’ll be a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, food trucks and beverage tents. Register here by midnight on September 16 for just $10 per person, and save $5 off the “at the door” ticket price!

October 29: Sips & Sounds, Janesville

Like fine wine, Sips & Sounds has been aged to perfection! At the 20th anniversary of this fabulous benefit, you can sip, sample and support Agrace’s quality care in Rock County. Bring your friends to enjoy wine and beer sampling, delectable treats, live music, an auction and more, Saturday, October 29, at the Celtic House at Glen Erin Golf Club in Janesville. Register today, or contact Cassie Hartje (608) 314-2923 with your questions.

Proceeds of these events support programs and services for Agrace’s patients and clients. 

A 32-Year Donation Tradition is an Investment in Community

Over 32 years, Deanna and Jim Moris have affected hundreds of Agrace patients and families. Through donations to Agrace, they have invested in their community, honored those who inspired them and even helped fulfill a bucket-list wish—right in their own back yard.

“I first donated to Agrace in Madison in 1990,” Deanna remembers. That gift was made in memory of a woman who had influenced Deanna to follow her dream of attending law school at the University of Wisconsin. 

Soon, Deanna developed a tradition of donating to Agrace in memory of others—more than 120 family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to date! “Families would send very touching thank-you notes, citing helpful services that they had received from Agrace. Hearing about those positive experiences during difficult times reinforced my commitment to donating.”

From Madison to Cassville

In 2002, Deanna moved west to Cassville, Wis., where she and Jim run a farm on the banks of the Mississippi. Agrace did not yet serve the area, but each year when Deanna made her annual list of organizations to support, Agrace was on it.

In 2018, Agrace extended our care to Grant County, and for the first time, Deanna and Jim’s Cassville community could benefit from their support of Agrace. In early 2022 they donated to our Wish program, which provides funds and coordination to grant our hospice patients’ end-of-life wishes. Just a few months later, the Wish Program helped Agrace patient Duane take one last fishing trip on the Mississippi River—at the Cassville fishing pier—with his sister, daughters and grandchildren. 

“Seeing that someone was able to benefit with a wish and have fun with his family really strengthens my belief that Agrace serves the community of people supporting the patient,” Deanna says. “I was happy to contribute one small part to that experience!”

You can support Agrace’s future, too! 

Tap the button below to make a gift that supports Agrace’s mission of high-quality care. To learn more about  making a future (planned) gift to Agrace in your will or estate plan, please contact John Hromyak, foundation director, at (608) 327-7139.  

Donate Here

Free speakers offered

Invite Us to Teach Your Group about Grief

Grief is universal: Everyone is affected by it at some point, yet most of us feel unsure what to say or how to support someone who is grieving. That’s where Agrace can help. 

Our Community Grief Team offers these free virtual or in-person presentations:

Grief 101—Learn about grief and how to support people who are grieving.

Supporting Grieving Kids—Learn how grief affects kids and how to best support them.

Grief and the Business Professional—Learn how organizations can support employees who are grieving.

If your organization, club, church or business would benefit from learning how to support people who are grieving, please contact us by email to learn more, or call (608) 327-7110.