CHP honors boy, celebrates 40th year

VW independent/submitted information

The family of Locke Maxey was honored as Community Health Professionals celebrated 40 years of providing home health and hospice services in Van Wert County and northwest and west central Ohio at the nonprofit’s 17th annual Hospice “Beacon of Hope” fundraiser Thursday night at Willow Bend Country Club.

Josh and Shannon (Haas) Maxey spoke about how the CHP Hospice program served their infant son, Locke, who lived 43 days before passing from Trisomy 13, a rare condition in which an extra 13th chromosome is present.

“We wanted to make sure in the short time we had him that he wasn’t being poked, pricked and prodded,” said Shannon Maxey. “Hospice enabled us to bring our little boy home.”

The Maxeys said they were presented several treatment options, but they knew they wanted to bring Locke home to experience the love of their family and to enjoy the simple joys of life, like seeing a garden their daughter loves.

“The days that we had Locke with us at home were a gift,” she said, “Hospice was a vessel for that gift.”

The Maxeys received a lighthouse from CHP and a lighthouse in memory of Locke will be displayed at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center with those presented in previous years. The lighthouse symbolizes the hope, comfort and support of hospice when a loved one is facing a life-limiting illness.

“You don’t think of hospice and think of someone who is young,” said Brent Tow, CHP president/CEO. “While the majority of our patients are older, it’s important for people to know that hospice care is for all ages, from the oldest to the very youngest, like Locke.”

More than 200 attended the dinner and auction, which along with information about hospice, includes a lot of laughs with emcee Rick Small and auctioneer Bob Gamble.

“It’s a great opportunity to help people learn a little about hospice and enjoy a fun evening,” Tow said.

McCoy’s Flowers and Diamonds and Northwest Ohio Welch Trophy were also recognized as “Friends of Hospice” for their continued support of events to benefit the CHP Hospice patient care fund.

“We need to raise funds for our patient care fund because we are nonprofit and service patients regardless of financial situation,” said Tow. “When patients are on hospice for only a few days or even a few hours – which often is the case – the reimbursement we receive from Medicare or insurance doesn’t cover all expenses and we absorb the cost.”

Amber Davis was the lucky winner of a mystery treasure chest drawing for over $500 worth of prizes, including an iPad mini, restaurant gift cards, lottery tickets, gas cards and more.

“We are thankful for the many loyal supporters of the agency and our services,” Tow said. “The quality of people we have enable us to continue our mission.”