Dear Greg and staff,

I have wanted to write to you and tell you of our experience at your facility. It's hard to know where to begin or how to get across our stay's significance without some history, so here goes.

My wife was 4 years old when her mother died and eight when her father died. In between there was a horrible step mother (and the adjective horrible is too kind). My wife had said that her life began when we married because she then had a home. When our 1st daughter was born my wife claimed she now had a family, and she described the birth of our second daughter as glitter on the Christmas tree. She devoted her entire being to our welfare. We came first and she never did for herself. I'm sure that because of her earlier life she felt unworthy. We were her life and although she loved people and the world she was never able to feel "safe" outside of her home.

I came from a secure background and for many years took things for granted. Over time I came to cherish her love and devotion, and my world of important things became smaller. My wife and daughters were everything.

After my wife learned she had cancer she didn't want to know the prognosis, she only wanted to fight it. I knew that she was terminal. Later as treatment failed we began to talk (but only as she wanted to face things) about the possibilities. She wanted to stay at home. I promised she would and that I'd take care of her.

gave her every bit of care and attention that she would have given me. I've learned that true caregivers are a gift from heaven. I don't know where they get their strength.

On January 13th at 3:30 a.m. after my wife began losing her ability to understand what was happening to her I realized I could not properly give her the care she needed or deserved. I called Kathy and she arranged for an ambulance to transport my wife to your facility. It was the hardest decision I have ever made in my life and I felt as though I had betrayed her.

Greg, I could write page after page of how your staff responded and cared for her. They gave my daughters and me as much attention and love (yes love) as they did my wife. We stayed together as a family. As you know, I never left my wife's side during that last week of her life. Every second that I spent with her was precious. Moving her to Hospice of the Fisher Home became the best and most important decision I have ever made. She died in my arms and I would not trade that week with her for anything.

God bless you all,

Randy Stevens

In October of 07 when we had found out that my brother-in-law was terminally ill with cancer, so we went in search of a hospice house that we felt would give him the level of comfort needed during his final months.

We were so glad to learn of the Fisher house in Amherst Ma, a six bed home that gave you the warmth and comforted feeling we were looking for as soon as you walked in. We were greeted by the staff as if we had been long time friends.

As the days went by and each one a challenge, my wife and I spent almost every day by his side into the night. Joe's other siblings visited when ever their work scheduled would allow them to. And each day we were there the staff treated us all like family waiting on us and bringing dinner to us in his room so we didn't have to leave him alone.

I have been involved in health care for many years as a director of facilities and never have experienced the care the staff at the Fisher House extended to us.

In Joe's final hours/minutes the staff was at our side ready to do what ever it took to comfort Joe's family. One particular nurse even stayed two hours of his own time to be there when he finally pass away.

The entire staff at the Fisher house should be proud of what they do for families in their care. I know that if I were ever stricken with this dreadful disease my first choice would be the Fisher Home of Amherst.

Mike & Marty Gardino
Lenox, MA, February 2008

Professional, compassionate and immediate nursing care was available to all the residents of the Fisher Home. The nursing staff truly practices the art of nursing. The nurses were, without exception, humane, authentic, sweet-natured and willing to do whatever was necessary to ensure that my Dad was comfortable.

Three things stood out as most impressive about the quality of care at the Fisher Home. First, the staff's tireless efforts to give each patient individualized attention were outstanding. Second, patients who did not have family around were treated with the same love as those whose family's visited often or stayed overnight. No one was left out of the larger, Fisher Home family. Third, there were dozens of small acts of kindness that went far above and beyond what one may expect in a care facility.

Signed Valerie Feit, July 2008

In our particular case, there is just not enough good that can be said about Fisher Home. My husband was very ill with a rare and aggressive, incurable cancer. We learned about Fisher Home entirely by chance...the telephone book. One visit and we were convinced that this was the ideal spot for him...both in terms of its location and physical makeup and in terms of the staffing and philosophy. When getting to know him, the staff often quoted their mantra: "Anything you want, anytime you want it." And this was not an empty promise. With continuous skillful and gentle care, unfailing kindness and endless good humor, the staff went about making my husband as comfortable and as tenderly cared for...and cared about....as was humanly possible. All aspects of the services there were completely integrated, completely harmonious. To say that he actually enjoyed the attention and care at Fisher Home is not an exaggeration. And to say that for myself and our family that it gave us a great sense of confidence and peace would be an understatement. We will all be forever grateful.

Signed Pamela Beaubien (Mrs. David J. Beaubien), August 2007