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Hospice Has First Lights Of Love Event

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By JOYCE McKENZIE The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - Long before hospice care became familiar to most caregivers, it was well-known to Trish Melech, whose father was a hospital chaplain.

He told her of the valuable resources available to people facing life-limiting illnesses and end-of-life medical, psychological and spiritual issues.

Ultimately, it was her dad who inspired Melech to devote countless hours and donate sizeable amounts of money to Hillsborough County's LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care. Founded in 1983, its team of medical professionals provides care for people in their homes, hospitals, nursing homes and hospice houses. Services are provided regardless of the person's ability to pay.

The Temple Terrace resident has chaired Island Night at Jackson's, the organization's annual signature fundraising event, and she serves on the not-for-profit group's board of directors.

The contribution that pleases her most is the $1.5 million she and her husband, Paul, gave toward building the Melech Hospice House, a 31,000-square-foot, 24-bed Temple Terrace residential facility that opened in May 2005.

"It's near and dear to both of our hearts," Trish Melech said. "We have gotten so much positive feedback on what the staff at the hospice house does, and I'm just pleased to be a part of something that affects the community in such a large way."

In turn, she was thrilled to be the person asked to turn on the Christmas tree lights during the first Lights of Love ceremony Thursday at the house named in her honor. The live cedar tree is adorned with white lights purchased by donors for $25 each as symbols of the brightness their loved ones brought to their lives.

Lights are still available for a donation of $25 each. Checks should be made payable to LifePath Hospice and mailed to LifePath Hospice, c/o Development Department, 12973 Telecom Parkway, Suite 100, Temple Terrace FL 33637.

Longtime LifePath House supporter and Temple Terrace resident Connie Boos remembers when her mother was a hospice patient.

"The service is just incomparable," said Boos, who noted that in 2006, 62 percent of the people who died in Hillsborough County, including those whose deaths were the result of accidents or violence, were treated in some capacity by LifePath Hospice.

Temple Terrace resident Kelly Panter began volunteering her time and resources when she and her husband, Mark, who's in the funeral home business, moved from Orlando.

"We saw how families were cared for and how wonderfully they were treated," said Kelly Panter, who organized the logistics for the ceremonial opening of Melech house. "That facility is the star on the top of the Christmas tree."

Anyone who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and is in the final 12 months of his life is eligible for LifePath Hospice services, which focus on pain management and the individual's quality of life.

Although Medicare, Medicaid and supplemental insurance generally cover treatment costs, last year LifePath Hospice provided more than $4 million in uncompensated care to patients.

That's where the community's contributions help cover the costs of services given to patients lacking the financial resources to pay, said hospice development director Sharon Jones.

"Those donations are also used to support our other hospice services, like our children's camps and bereavement counseling," she said.

For details, call (813) 871-8111.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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