Libby has dedicated 21 years to hospice care, with the last 4½ years as a charge nurse at TRU’s Inpatient Unit (IPU). Her days revolve around ensuring comfort for patients and visitors while supporting her team. From managing symptoms to providing emotional support and end-of-life education, Libby approaches each responsibility with deep dedication.

“The power and beauty that exist at the IPU made me feel as if I had found my way home. After 21 years of hospice work, I still feel the same way. Even on the most challenging of days, I can’t see working anywhere else.”

What makes the work special for Libby is the unique environment at the IPU, which she describes as “magical.” She values the family-like bond with her colleagues and appreciates how their diverse skills allow everyone to grow professionally. “I feel supported and heard by all levels of management,” she notes, highlighting TRU’s responsive and approachable leadership.

When asked what she wishes people understood about hospice nursing, Libby offers a profound perspective. While people often call hospice nurses “angels” or “special people,” she sees her role differently: “I am here because I was called and because I was invited.” For Libby, the privilege of being present in life’s most intimate final moments is “beautiful, life-changing, sacred, exhausting, and often mind-blowing soul work.”

Outside of her nursing role, Libby leads a richly creative life as a professional dog photographer at www.furdogruffur.com. She also volunteers at the Colorado Kitty Coalition, enjoys road biking, writes as both a novelist and playwright, reads “endlessly,” and creates “ooooodles of origami.” As she puts it, “This is one beautiful life we are livin’, my friends, and I feel so very blessed.”

For Mike Samuels, a retired chemical engineer with decades of experience in university teaching and industrial research, the path to hospice care began with a simple but troubling symptom: severe shortness of breath while walking. As his condition worsened over several months in 2024, Mike found himself shuttling between specialists, searching for answers.

“By the start of October 2024, I had spent three months running back and forth between a cardiologist and a pulmonologist, trying to find a solution for the severe shortness of breath I experienced every time I tried to walk at more than a very slow pace,” Mike shares.

After multiple consultations, tests, and hospital visits, Mike received difficult news. His doctors confirmed he was experiencing problems in both his cardiac and pulmonary systems, with no further treatments available to improve his condition.

The Decision to Choose Hospice

Having already witnessed the professionalism and compassion of TRU Community Care through his and his wife Sue’s years as TRU volunteers, Mike decided to pursue palliative care, which later transitioned to hospice care.

“My wife and I agreed that I should seek palliative care with TRU,” Mike writes. “Following that, it became clear to me that hospice care would meet my needs as nothing else would.”

Mike’s transition into hospice was smooth, beginning with palliative care in mid-October 2024 and moving to full hospice services by mid-November.

What Hospice Provides

One aspect of hospice care that surprised Mike was the comprehensive support he received:

“TRU’s program includes a weekly visit with my hospice nurse, all medicines required to combat the diseases that give me a short life span expectation at this time, and all durable medical equipment I need, including a home oxygen concentrator.”

The medication management particularly impressed him: “I have found this service nothing short of amazing. When I first entered palliative care, I was having a hard time sleeping and spent most of the daytime with a dry hacking cough. Now, I get wonderful relief from the coughing, and sleeping is no longer a problem for me.”

Beyond Physical Care

Mike emphasizes that hospice provides emotional and spiritual support as well. He and his wife also receive biweekly visits from a TRU chaplain, which has been especially meaningful to Sue as she comes to terms with the prospect of losing her husband of nearly 60 years.

“My wife has found the chaplain’s visits very comforting as she walks through the fact that her husband of nearly 60 years, and the vast majority of her life, will not be here to help her navigate her remaining years.”

Why Sharing Matters

Mike’s motivation for sharing his story stems from encounters with others who could have benefited from hospice but hesitated. He recounts meeting a fellow community member with pulmonary fibrosis who seemed uncomfortable discussing hospice options and tragically passed away shortly after their conversation.

Mike also reflects on earlier medical experiences, noting how much anxiety could be relieved if healthcare providers were more forthcoming about what patients should expect. This philosophy drives his desire to demystify hospice for others who might benefit from it.

Finding Peace in the Journey

Despite facing a life-limiting illness, Mike approaches his situation with remarkable clarity and acceptance. When asked if there were things he would do differently if given the chance, or experiences he wished he’d had, his answer was simple: “not really.”

Having lived a fulfilling life professionally and personally, with a loving family including three children and four grandchildren, Mike has found peace in this final chapter. His focus now is on sharing what he’s learned to help others make informed choices about their own end-of-life care.

“I hope you have found this information helpful to you in your decision whether or not to enroll in a hospice,” Mike concludes in his letter.

Through Mike’s generosity in sharing his journey, countless others may find the courage to explore hospice care sooner, potentially transforming what could be a difficult time into one of comfort, dignity, and peace.

During National Nurses Week, TRU clinical staff, leadership, and team members gathered at the Tele-Care Center to honor our extraordinary nurses who embody compassion, dedication, and skilled care every day.

Our nurses are the backbone of TRU’s mission—bringing comfort to patients facing life’s most challenging transitions while supporting families through their grief journey. With gentle hands and resilient spirits, they navigate complex medical needs while nurturing the emotional and spiritual well-being of those in their care. Their work transforms difficult moments into experiences of dignity, meaning, and even unexpected joy.

The celebration featured the prestigious DAISY Award presentation for extraordinary patient care to Nurse Case Manager Tammy Irwin. Her nomination highlighted her exceptional patient advocacy and personal connection with those in her care. In one remarkable instance, Tammy initiated continuous care for a patient experiencing severe terminal agitation, remaining present throughout the day to ensure both patient and family received comprehensive support during an extremely difficult time. Thanks to her intervention, the patient passed peacefully and comfortably.

TRU Chaplains Lloyd “Lew” White and Vanessa Owen conducted a moving “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony. Lew honored the nurses’ connection to Florence Nightingale’s legacy of providing care with comfort and compassion. “Patients and families rely heavily on you during journeys filled with anguish, tears, and fear,” he noted. “You provide joy and meaning of finality. You truly are a blessing to so many.”

The ceremony also included a touching poetry reading by Intake Coordinator Reiley Robinson, who shared his poem “Threadbare” about the profound nature of touch and “all the things a hand can hold,” dedicated to TRU patients and families.

As the celebration concluded, Clinical Educator Chloe Brown invited nurses to enjoy refreshments, fellowship, and collect their special Nurses Week gifts—a small token of appreciation for the immeasurable impact they make every day.

 

For nearly three years, Darcie has been a compassionate voice on the other end of the line as a telehealth RN at TRU Community Care, but her journey in healthcare started much earlier.

Darcie began her nursing career in 2008 working primarily in rehabilitation at nursing homes where she discovered her natural ability to connect with seniors. “I absolutely adore seniors and have a knack for connecting with them,” she shares. Her path led her to roles as Director of Care for ComforCare of Lakewood and Nurse Manager at a facility for the developmentally disabled before finding her calling in hospice care at Suncrest, where she found it “incredibly rewarding to be with patients and families at that life stage.”

An unexpected chapter took her away from nursing temporarily—building and operating a 9.5-acre organic farm from a gutted, flooded house. Though health challenges eventually led her back to town and to TRU, this experience speaks to her resilience and versatility.

“My main focus is making everyone feel truly cared about,” says Darcie of her current role. “I want anyone who contacts us to feel listened to, respected, and taken care of.”

Her day involves much more than answering calls—she offers advice, connects patients with services, coordinates with pharmacies and medical offices, and provided a lifeline to one caller when it was needed most.

“Empathy costs nothing. Apply it generously, and don’t forget to laugh with people. Making someone laugh is good medicine,” Darcie shares when asked what she wishes people understood about nursing.

Her compassion extends beyond her professional life—Darcie runs a small charity operation preparing 10-15 gallons of soups, stews, and casseroles monthly to feed 100-200 local homeless people in Fort Collins and Loveland. Though she handles planning, purchasing, and cooking the main dishes herself, she’s grateful for volunteers who now contribute fruits, vegetables, bread, and desserts to create complete meals.

When she’s not helping others, Darcie enjoys playing “nerdy complicated board games” with her husband, as well as cooking and gardening together.

Thank you, Darcie, for bringing your compassion and dedication to our TRU family!

Roberta’s journey with TRU began as an LPN in the inpatient unit at LUH before moving to her current role as Afterhours/Weekend Supervisor. She says that she’s “looking forward to the continued growth in the After Hours Triage line of service,” she shares with enthusiasm.

Weekends at TRU are “a multi-tasker’s dream” for Roberta. She manages all lines of business while supervising the hospice visit nurse team and phone triage operators, even extending support to partner hospices in Colorado and North Carolina.

Nursing is actually Roberta’s second career, following 25 years in healthcare non-profit administration. The COVID-19 pandemic became her turning point: “I found myself working alongside my nurses, and my desire to advocate for them grew. To truly advocate for my nurses, I needed to become one.” This dedication led her to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in February 2025.

When discussing hospice nursing, Roberta notes the common misconceptions: “When I tell others I’m a Hospice nurse, I receive one of two responses: ‘Oh, wow, you’re an angel’ or ‘I don’t agree with helping people die.’ There is SO much more to the end-of-life journey. I wish there was more focus on normalizing death in America, as it is in other countries/cultures.”

Her commitment to honoring the nursing profession extends beyond TRU—Roberta founded the Northern Colorado Nursing Honor Guard, which stands in vigil at funerals or celebrations of life for nurses who have passed.

Outside of work, Roberta finds joy in baking, a passion she once turned into a business. “I just finished prepping six dozen cinnamon rolls to share with my fellow nurses for Friday’s nurse day celebration!”

Thank you, Roberta, for your dedication to nursing and compassionate leadership at TRU!

For Nurses Week, The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) aired a special episode of their Beyond Nurse Residency podcast featuring three program coordinators and their residents who utilize IONRP’s all-online option, sharing their experiences and insights into the residency program.

While the entire episode is informative and powerful, of particular interest is the last 20 minutes of the program (beginning at 31:50) which features Hospice Nurse Resident Katrina Hess and TRU Clinical Education Supervisor and On-Site Coordinator for the IONRP Rachel Stackhouse.

During the interview, Katrina and Rachel discuss how TRU Community Care has pioneered something remarkable – a new graduate nurse residency program in hospice care. Rachel explains how TRU didn’t even hire new graduate nurses until partnering with IONRP in 2022, and how they’ve built a comprehensive year-long program that combines the Iowa curriculum with specialized hospice training, including ELNEC (End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium) and NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthcare Elders) certifications.

Katrina shares her journey as a new nurse in hospice, including how the program normalized the challenges of transitioning from nursing school to professional practice. She highlights the invaluable support from Rachel, describing how their monthly meetings and regular check-ins help connect theoretical concepts to the unique hospice setting while providing emotional support through the intense experiences of working with end-of-life care.

Perhaps most compelling is Rachel’s insight about the “Grow or Go” phase that occurs around months 6-9 for new hospice nurses – a critical decision point when nurses must process their experiences with death, suffering, and the emotional weight of hospice care, choosing whether to develop resilience or change paths. As the podcast reveals, TRU’s thoughtful implementation of the IONRP has created a supportive environment where new graduates can thrive in this specialized field, ultimately benefiting not just the organization but the nursing profession as a whole.

Listen to the Beyond Nurse Residency podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts.

After graduating nursing school in 2008, Alexis cared for neuro and ortho patients and worked in travel nursing before taking an extraordinary path—pursuing self-care and meditation practices, eventually becoming a temporary nun at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Canada.

“When COVID hit in 2020, I realized I had a skill-set that would allow me to be of help,” Alexis shares. This calling brought her back to nursing, first at Boulder Community Hospital’s Oncology unit, and eventually to TRU in July 2023.

Her Buddhist background uniquely prepared her for hospice work. “Tibetan Buddhists have a saying, ‘think about death five times a day and you’ll be happy.’ This attitude, coupled with witnessing many oncology patients scared to die, ultimately led me to hospice care.”

At TRU, Alexis finds deep meaning in supporting patients during their final journey. “We are with patients and families for a very specific sliver of their lives—filled with sadness, appreciation for life, fear, and fearlessness. Facades usually drop in the face of terminal illness. I truly honor these moments.”

“It is a privilege to do this work and be present for our community members in this way. I love my job with TRU, and I hope to continue it long into the future.”

Thank you, Alexis, for bringing your compassion and unique perspective to our TRU family!

 

For nearly two decades, our TRU Thrift Shop has been weaving together three important threads: environmental sustainability, community service, and funding for compassionate care. For Earth Week (April 21-27), we’re excited to highlight how these threads come together to create something truly special in our Boulder community.

Earth Week Special: Donate & Save

This Earth Week, TRU Thrift Shop is offering a special “Donate & Save” initiative. When you bring in gently used items on our donation days (Wednesday 4/23, Friday 4/25, and Saturday 4/26), you’ll receive a voucher for 25% off a future day of shopping. It’s our way of saying “thank you” for supporting both our environment and our mission.

“Our commitment extends even beyond raising funds for compassionate care—we’re equally dedicated to environmental stewardship,” explains Lynn McCullough, TRU Thrift Shop Manager. “Earth Week provides the perfect opportunity to showcase how second-hand shopping supports both our community and our planet.”

Beyond Selling: Our Sustainability Mission

What many shoppers might not realize is just how far our commitment to sustainability extends. TRU Thrift Shop has developed an extensive network of community partnerships ensuring that nearly every donation finds its best possible second life.

At the heart of these efforts is TRU Thrift’s “Giving Room,” a dedicated space where volunteers carefully sort items that cannot be sold in-store but still have tremendous value. Through thoughtful partnerships with local organizations, these items are redirected to serve community needs:

• Sheets find new purpose at The Natural Funeral for their green burial services and at Faith Community Church as backings for quilts donated to people in need
• Baby clothes are shared with Gabriel House to support families
• Shoes go to Haven Ridge and Deacon’s Closet, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness
• Towels and toiletries make their way to All Roads (formerly the Boulder Shelter)
• Children’s books bring joy through Sister Carmen

Creative Repurposing at Work

TRU Thrift Shop volunteers are constantly finding innovative ways to give items new life. Some of their creative repurposing efforts have included:

• Selling t-shirts at a discount to groups who transform them into reusable shopping bags
• Denim has been repurposed as cabin insulation
• Towels and rags find new purpose in cleaning services for underserved communities, restaurant kitchens, and even as packing for punching bags and homes for feral rabbits

We also maintain a robust recycling program for materials that can’t be reused. Our dedicated volunteers regularly transport:

• Batteries, electronics, glassware, ceramics, and light bulbs to CHaRM
• Polystyrene and plastic bags to Eco Cycle
• Medical supplies and equipment to Good Health Will in Loveland

A Triple Bottom Line

When you shop at or donate to TRU Thrift Shop, you’re supporting a triple bottom line:

1. Environmental impact: Reducing waste and giving items a second life
2. Community benefit: Supporting local organizations serving those in need
3. Compassionate care: Funding TRU Community Care’s essential end-of-life and supportive care services

In 2024, TRU Thrift Shop exceeded $1 million in revenue, with half directly funding the essential services that TRU Community Care provides to our neighbors.

“Every item donated or purchased represents a step toward a more sustainable future,” says McCullough. “We’re grateful to our community for supporting our dual mission of funding compassionate care while reducing waste.”

Visit Us This Earth Week

We invite you to visit TRU Thrift Shop during Earth Week, whether you’re dropping off donations, shopping for treasures, or simply curious about our sustainability initiatives. Our team is always happy to share more about our work and the impact it makes.

TRU Thrift Shop – TRUcare.org/thrift
Address: 5565 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: (303) 604-5353
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Special Earth Week Donation Days: Wednesday 4/23, Friday 4/25, and Saturday 4/26

 

Veterans from various eras of military service gathered Tuesday at Boulder’s Frasier Retirement Community for a special Military Recognition Ceremony and Vietnam Veterans Commemoration. The April 1st event, co-presented by Frasier and TRU Community Care, provided a long-overdue welcome home to Vietnam-era veterans while honoring all who have served in the United States military.

The ceremony opened with a presentation of colors by the American Legion Post 32 Honor Guard. Scott Pastor, an Air Force veteran and TRU nurse, led the opening remarks with a powerful message to veterans: “You are not forgotten. You are seen and your service is remembered with gratitude and respect.”

During the recognition of veterans, Pastor noted that there are more than 18 million living veterans in the United States today, representing about 6% of the country’s adult population. The ceremony honored veterans from all branches of service, with special recognition given to veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam era.

The event placed particular emphasis on Vietnam-era veterans, who make up 30% of all veterans today. Gene Schiferl, a Vietnam War combat veteran who served in 1967-68 and experienced the Tet Offensive, led the Vietnam Veteran Commemoration pinning.

“It was not popular during the Vietnam War era to be in the military,” Schiferl explained. “One of the most tragic legacies… was the mistreatment that many Vietnam veterans received upon their return to this country.”

In a segment called “Echoes of Service,” Army veteran and medic Larry Sturgeon shared personal experiences from his time serving during the Vietnam era. Sturgeon recalled his basic training at Fort Bliss and his service at a hospital in Japan where wounded service members were sent. He spoke candidly about the difficult homecoming many Vietnam veterans faced.

“Many people realized that we weren’t really accomplishing anything, and the price we were paying was just too great. Unfortunately, they got the war confused with the warriors, and many of my fellow veterans were seriously mistreated on the way home.”

Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett offered heartfelt words of appreciation on behalf of the community. The Mayor also highlighted TRU Community Care’s involvement with the VCP Village in Longmont, a tiny home community for veterans experiencing homelessness. “This gets them off the street. It gets them into their own house with a door that they can close and lock and a place for them to live and recover from the wounds that they’ve experienced, whether those were physical, mental, or any other kind,” Brockett explained.

Another highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of honor quilts by Bee Sew Brave, a group associated with the Longmont Quilt Guild. “Our quilts are made with a lot of love, and when we present them, we present them with that love and a hug. And we hope you take that with you wherever you go,” said a representative from the group prior to presenting special quilts to three World War II veterans in attendance.

The quilt guild’s ongoing mission includes providing quilts for veterans moving into VCP tiny homes and for wounded warriors participating in adaptive winter sports programs in Estes Park.

“Last year, we gave away 50 quilts to veterans,” the Bee Sew Brave representative shared. “Every time we get asked to come and work with the Honor Guard, it’s amazing. We meet amazing people. We hear amazing stories. We hear a lot of healing from our quilts, the stories that we get back from veterans that has helped them.”

The ceremony aligned with Colorado’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, established in 2021 and observed on March 30th, which gives Americans the opportunity to say “welcome home” to Vietnam veterans who may not have received proper recognition upon their return.

TRU Community Care, founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, is a five-star-level hospice in the National Alliance for Care at Home We Honor Veterans program, created in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.