Fall 2023

A Year in Hospice Care Gives Brooks More Life

Brooks Manzeck found joy in simple things: walks, swinging, Legos, his blue tractor, sparkling water (he called it “water in a can”) and squishies. He had a big personality and a contagious giggle. In his too-short life, his parents, Chris and Kelly, and Agrace Hospice Care teamed up to help Brooks find as much joy as possible.

Gray (l) and Brooks

When Brooks was 16 months old, a fall led to tests that revealed an unexpected cause: a rare brain cancer that mainly affects children. Surgery, chemotherapy and three stem cell transplants left him temporarily cancer-free. Unfortunately, in July 2021, Brooks’ cancer returned—and no more curative treatment options were available.

“Brooks relapsed on July 13, and we were set up with Agrace Hospice Care on July 14,” remembers his mom, Kelly.

Nicole Strahm, the family’s Agrace nurse case manager, recalls, “When we first met him, he was only expected to live a few days. He was sleeping on the couch in the living room and was minimally responsive.

“But over the next week, he perked up. Within a month, he was back to being a typical three-year-old little boy—driving his toy tractor, running around and giggling non-stop.”

To help Brooks accept his care, his parents and care team offered him small prizes: a squishy or a Rolo. “He would joke with Nicole or the doctor about not being ready take his meds, but some things kids should never have to do; he just did it,” Kelly notes.

Brooks’ dad, Chris, recalls, “I remember the conversation we had when he lost mobility. He made a joke about it. It was the strangest thing! He was telling a story and he was really animated and just said, ‘Yep, my legs don’t work anymore!’ To anyone else, that’s a crushing blow to your lifestyle, but he just went with it.”

The Whole Family Is the Patient

With Kelly and Chris taking the lead in Brooks’ care, they had Agrace for support. “He was such a puzzle to them,” Kelly recalls. “In the beginning, we were told we had two weeks—and it was literally a year. He didn’t follow the rules of dying.”

Agrace RN Nicole Strahm examines Brooks during a home visit

“Nicole guided us through every decision, always with Brooks’ level of comfort in the front of her mind. She saw all of us at our best and worst. She shared in our highs and lows.” Their Agrace social worker, Peg Strange, built a strong connection with Brooks’ brother Gray, as well. She answered his questions in a kid-friendly way, Kelly notes.

As Brooks’ health declined, Kelly and Chris collaborated with their Agrace team regularly on changes to his medication and care needs. Chris says, “We had to lean on their expertise because they see this all the time. We needed someone to bounce ideas off of, and Nicole was our trusted advisor to all the providers who were overseeing his care.”

Both Nicole and Peg went to the Manzecks’ home the morning Brooks died. Peg shared time with Gray, while Nicole helped Chris and Kelly understand what would happen next. Chris carried Brooks downstairs, and he and Kelly lovingly placed him on the stretcher, with his favorite blanket and stuffed raccoon nestled close.

Nicole says, “It is impossible not to grieve with the family who has invited you into their home during such a precious and sacred time. Brooks had the best laugh; I can hear it right now. I will always remember him.”

When you donate to or volunteer with Agrace, you’re supporting high-quality nonprofit hospice care for patients of all ages across southern Wisconsin—and much more. Thank you! 

Care for All Dollars Can Now Help More Agrace Patients & Clients 

A very welcome expansion was recently approved for Agrace’s Care for All charitable care program. In addition to assisting patients who need hospice care or supportive (palliative) care, this program can now help clients pay for the Agrace Adult Day Center and Agrace Age at Home.

Care for All is a donor-supported program that helps Agrace patients and clients pay for their care if they can show financial need and have no other options. To learn more about receiving financial assistance through Care for All, please contact Agrace’s Enrollment Team at (800) 930-2770.

This year’s Agrace Thrift Store holiday pop-up shop will open Thursday, October 12, inside East Towne Mall in Madison. Hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Use the food court or Dick’s Sporting Goods entrances and follow the scent of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels to find us.

Watch our Facebook and Instagram pages and our thrift store website for details. All proceeds go to support Agrace’s health care and community grief services.

Do you love thrifting and have Saturdays free?

Agrace is looking for volunteers who’d like to help out half-days on Saturdays at the Agrace Thrift Home Store on Stoughton Road in Madison. We are also in need of volunteers Monday through Saturday at our Janesville thrift store. See all four of our locations here.