Hospice of Mat-Su Lights up a life

Two Christmas trees are helping people pay tribute to love ones and make sure a local nonprofit organization is there to help others.

The annual Light Up a Life fund-raiser for Hospice of Mat-Su kicks off this week, with Christmas trees at the Cottonwood Creek Mall in Wasilla and the Koslosky Center in Palmer.

For $15, people can write on a star the name of a loved one who has passed away, and put the ornament on the tree.

Every name on both trees will be read during a special Night of Remembrance, held at the Palmer Depot on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.

Light Up a Life is the largest fund-raiser for Hospice of Mat-Su, and it comes at an appropriate time, said Matt Nelson of Hospice of Mat-Su.

"Christmas is the hardest holiday to get through. People tend to think they are alone, even in a crowd," Nelson said. "Christmas is the right time to do a gathering like this. It's a renewal of spirit for people."

There are desks at both locations where people can pick up information about the organization, as well as purchase an angel to hang on the tree. There are also angles available for $50.

The Light up a Life program is run by volunteers, many of whom give entire days of their time to the organization, manning the desk or doing whatever needs to be done during the hectic holiday season.

It isn't always easy for the volunteers, either. They often share their experiences with the "customers" of Light Up a Life.

"Yes, you do share some tears with people when they come up to talk, but that's part of it," volunteer Sharon Seagondollar said. "The emotions run the full gamut -- you get sadness and joy."

There are 25 Hospice volunteers helping with the fund-raiser, and with Hospice activities. They are the backbone of the organization, said Babetta Daddino, the Hospice manager.

"They are absolutely great," Daddino said. "We couldn't do it without them."

Last year, more than 350 names were placed on the two trees, up from just over 200 the year before.

The fund-raiser earned more than $11,000 for the local organization, and all of that money stays in the Valley, Nelson said.

"We had three pages of names to read at the gathering. As we were reading them, people even were running up with handwritten names to add at the last minute," Nelson said. "It was great."

While the trees help people pay tribute to loved ones, they also allow Hospice of Mat-Su to be more visible. The organization -- one of the largest in the state -- has been around for 20 years. In 1991, the organization was taken in by Valley Hospital, which has been subsidizing the program ever since.

"There are tremendous regulatory requirements and inspections hospice programs have to abide by," Nelson said.

Last year 66 families were served by Hospice of Mat-Su. This year, the organization has already eclipsed that mark, and part of that comes with increased awareness, Nelson said.

"We've served up to 16 families at one time this year," Nelson said. "People are aware of what we can offer families, and they know someone is out there who can help."

Daddino said the fund-raiser also lets people know Hospice of Mat-Su is available to them, should they need the group.

"There are always people who come up and talk and tell us this is the first time they knew there was a hospice program in the Valley," Daddino said. "We always get a lot of positive feedback while we are doing the trees."

The money raised during the Light Up a Life fund-raiser will go to help cover many aspects of the program.

"They money goes into patient medications, medical equipment, our bereavement programs," Daddino said, "and all the other programs we have."

What is Hospice of Mat-Su?

When people see the Light Up a Life trees, the first question some ask is, "What exactly is Hospice of Mat-Su?"

The organization is one of hundreds across the country that help families deal with terminal illnesses. Hospice of Mat-Su can provide in-home health care, medications, spiritual care and the organization has a bereavement support program for families.

"We work with the patient's physicians, because it can be hard for physicians to talk to the families about the emotional part of care," said Babetta Daddino, the Valley Hospital hospice manager.

There is no set "routine" for hospice services.

"With everything we do, there are options for the patients and their families," said Matt Nelson of Hospice of Mat-Su. "It really is a cooperative effort. Ultimately, it's about the family and what the family wants. We are directed by the families and their doctors.

"We don't 'control' anything or take over anything with the care," Nelson said. "A lot of people don't realize that."

The organization serves families with a member who has any life-threatening illness.

"We have a wide range of patients, from those in their 40s to a 98-year-old," Nelson said.

The program relies on volunteers, all of whom must undergo extensive training. The next training session is coming up in January, Daddino said.

For more information about Hospice of Mat-Su, interested people can call 352-4800.