Tim Roxburgh has had the unique experience of going back home after spending six months at hospice.

When you go to hospice for end-of-life care, itB次元官网网址檚 not expected that you will leave again. But the Langley man did just that, and he has shared with people what helped to bring him home.

Last January, Roxburgh collapsed and ended up in emergency with a serious case of cirrhosis, a complication of liver disease.

He ended up in Abbotsford Hospital for three weeks and was sent home only to go right back. He was in hospital until May and was deteriorating every day. The environment of a hospital is not a healing setting, said Roxburgh.

B次元官网网址淚 was told I was about two weeks from dead and they offered me a bed at the Christine Morrison Hospice in Mission. It was available so I took it,B次元官网网址� he said.

When he arrived at hospice, he couldnB次元官网网址檛 do anything, not even get out of bed without the aid of nurses.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a pretty independent guy and having to get someone to help me for everything wasnB次元官网网址檛 working for me,B次元官网网址� he laughs.

He also had an important goal to reach. He wanted to live long enough to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. With the support of his daughters and the quality care at the hospice, Roxburgh not only walked his daughter down the aisle using a walker, he also walked out of hospice alive, using a cane.

He said the personalized care and supportive atmosphere makes a world of difference for those who are dying and for those who do leave hospice alive.

B次元官网网址淎fter six months there, I guess I graduated,B次元官网网址� he joked.

Physicians gave him the all clear to go home.

B次元官网网址淭he doctors are amazed about my recovery. I am too,B次元官网网址� he said.

He has recently met with staff at the Langley Hospice to share some of the ideas he has for the new 15-bed stand-alone hospice planned for Langley.

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Hospice isnB次元官网网址檛 run by the rules like a hospital, he points out.

B次元官网网址淚f you want to bring in outside food because you donB次元官网网址檛 like whatB次元官网网址檚 on the menu one day, they are OK with that. I like to wake up and have a warm cup of soup at night. The nurses accommodated that. They accommodate to the individualB次元官网网址檚 needs and wants. It takes a special kind of person to be staff and volunteer at hospice.B次元官网网址�

While there, Roxburgh implemented Float Fridays, which meant that every Friday, the staff would organize ice cream and pop and offer floats to residents who could have one.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檇 be amazed how many people have never had a float before,B次元官网网址� he said.

Then he created Sunday Suppers once a month.

B次元官网网址淎ll residents, family, friends, staff and volunteers were welcome. WeB次元官网网址檇 sometimes have 40 people there. Not everyone can take part, but everyone is welcome. For those who wanted food, they would have it brought to their room.B次元官网网址�

Jane Godfrey, patient care co-ordinator at the Christine Morrison Hospice said Roxburgh left a legacy there.

B次元官网网址淭im arrived with a prognosis that wasnB次元官网网址檛 good. He had no appetite and couldnB次元官网网址檛 do anything on his own. But he thrived here and before he left he was putting up Christmas decorations,B次元官网网址� said Godfrey.

B次元官网网址淲e allowed him to be the leader in his own care. We treat the whole person. We are passionate about honoring the patientB次元官网网址檚 wishes and goals. ItB次元官网网址檚 been an honour to walk that journey with Tim.B次元官网网址�

When people go to hospice they are receiving end-of-life care. Godfrey said the focus is about quality living and quality dying.

And at the hospice, they have the most beautiful garden Roxburgh said he has ever seen, adding it was his favourite place B次元官网网址� outside enjoying the flowers.

The garden motivated him to become mobile enough that he could visit it anytime he wanted without help. In the summer, he started photographing the flowers.

A bed in Langley opened up about three weeks into RoxburghB次元官网网址檚 stay at Christine Morrison, but he turned it down.

B次元官网网址淚 was really happy in Mission,B次元官网网址� he said.

Roxburgh got to know the B次元官网网址榤arvelousB次元官网网址� staff and B次元官网网址榓mazingB次元官网网址� volunteers who he described as a constant form of support.

B次元官网网址淭he way the staff and volunteers work together. ItB次元官网网址檚 an amazing system,B次元官网网址� he said.

Godfrey agrees. She has been there since 2005 and notes that there is little turnover of staff because they are so passionate about their work.

Each room is private, with a TV, telephone and wifi, offering a home-like setting. And unlike a hospital, there arenB次元官网网址檛 rules.

B次元官网网址淚f a person really wanted a beer one night, it can be accommodated if the doctor says itB次元官网网址檚 OK,B次元官网网址� he said.

If you arenB次元官网网址檛 able to get out of your room, volunteers come to you.

B次元官网网址淭hey offer a blanket, to get you a cup of coffee, or just have a chat. Whatever it is you need, they make it happen,B次元官网网址� he said.

In his working life, Roxburgh was a bus driver for more than 30 years and loved every day of it.

In fact, heB次元官网网址檚 hoping to get back on the road.

B次元官网网址淢y doctor OKB次元官网网址檇 for me to take my Class 2 driverB次元官网网址檚 test,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to that.B次元官网网址�

While some might choose to stay away from hospice after being one of the few people who can leave it alive, Roxburgh has already been back to visit and to attend a Sunday supper.