In June 2024, Paul and Maura Dallaire, a couple from Timmins, decided to downsize and move to a retirement home as they navigated the challenges of aging. Shortly after their move, Paul was diagnosed with cancer, and by November, his condition had worsened significantly. He was admitted to the local hospital, where his prognosis was poor.
Maura, suffering from dementia, remained alone at the retirement home, unable to visit him on her own. Their daughters, Claudette and Michelle, lived in Acton and Oshawa with their families, making it challenging to support their father and ensure their parents could see each other. They would visit as often as possible, but Paul felt sad and lonely. As their father’s health deteriorated, the family knew they needed to be together, but the distance between them was a barrier they couldn’t navigate on their own.
In an emotional conversation with the hospital staff in Timmins, Claudette and Michelle asked if there was any possibility their father could be moved closer to them. They didn’t expect much, but Dr. Wilson quickly went to work. “Dr. Wilson was an angel. She immediately reached out to hospices in the region, trying to find space for us.
A local hospice offered to place their father on a waiting list, but knowing hospice wait times could sometimes be weeks, Dr. Wilson continued to contact other hospices nearby. That’s when Laurie, our Intake Coordinator at Carpenter Hospice, received a message on a cold Sunday in November asking if we could accommodate Paul. A bed became available on Tuesday, and we offered to hold it while they arranged transportation.
Given the distance, ground transport was not an option. Timmins Hospital arranged transport by Ornge helicopter for the next day! On Wednesday morning, Paul arrived at Hamilton Airport by helicopter, where Patient Transfer Services were waiting. Less than 40 minutes later, he arrived at Carpenter Hospice, where the first person he saw upon arrival was Claudette. The tears flowed.
Once Paul was settled into his room, Laurie greeted and welcomed him. He was a little nervous after his busy day, and his only question was, “How long am I going to be here?” Laurie responded gently, “As long as you need us, Paul.” At that moment, Claudette witnessed something profound: her father’s shoulders relaxed, and he sank back into his bed. She said he was finally at ease and knew he was safe and cared for.
“Our father was only with us for another week, but that week was everything, said Claudette.” They spent every day by his side; he was able to see his grandchildren, and with their mother now living in Oshawa with Michelle and her family, she was also able to visit. They could experience a sense of love and contentment that they hadn’t expected weeks earlier.
In conversations with the family throughout the week, Nina, our Spiritual Care Coordinator, learned that Paul was a man of deep faith and Indigenous and Métis heritage. As his condition worsened, Nina reached out to a local Indigenous group who came to Carpenter and performed a beautiful ceremony of prayer and song, honouring Paul’s life. At one point, although weak, Paul attempted to sing along in his native language. The room was filled with emotion. Paul passed just a few hours later. “The funny thing is, we weren’t sad. We knew our dad was at peace,” Claudette said. “We were so happy to experience that powerful moment with him and feel blessed that everyone at Carpenter Hospice helped us through this difficult time,” she added.
The Dallaire family’s experience at Carpenter Hospice was filled with moments of connection, love, and support from our team and the broader community. It’s a testament to the power of compassionate care, the importance of community, and the profound impact that a place like Carpenter Hospice can have on families during their most difficult moments.
Your support helps make these moments possible.